The Everybody Deserves A Smile (EDAS) campaign is up and running for another season, and the committee is putting the call out for community help.
2023 marks the 20th year for the campaign - and 16th in the Comox Valley.
EDAS originally started in Edmonton when Chantal Stefan, now a Grade 1 teacher at 脡cole Puntledge School, and three friends distributed handmade bags full of socks, cookies, and Christmas cards throughout Edmonton鈥檚 back alleys to spread a little Christmas cheer.
鈥�(20 years ago), I saw a man rummaging through a garbage bin and I had this really strong feeling of love to help them,鈥� said Stefan. 鈥淚 gathered three friends at that time, (and we made some bags in which we put) some sugar cookies, a pair of socks and a little written note made out of construction paper.
鈥淲e made a total of 88 little bags and hung them on garbage bins with the intent of making somebody smile and they disappeared overnight.鈥�
Stefan baptized the gifts 鈥榖ags of hope.鈥�
What started as a one-off idea to send out positive vibes to those who needed them has turned into a multi-school, multi-city initiative, impacting the vulnerable across Western Canada.
Present in six cities including Comox Valley, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Powell River, and Red Deer, Alta., this ever-growing initiative is set to help more than 3,000 people in need this year.
The Comox Valley alone will be responsible for catering to half of this population.
鈥�(Out of the) 1,500 people, 1,050 of those care packages will be (handed out locally),鈥� said Stefan. 鈥淲e will take just over 200 bags to Victoria and over 200 to East Hastings (Downtown Eastside, Vancouver).鈥�
This year鈥檚 EDAS campaign, based at Puntledge School, will receive support from more than 1,000 students across 22 schools in the Valley, distributed among 88 classes.
Led by Stefan and a dedicated team of Grade 7 student ambassadors - Pi, Magnolia, Lily, and Mya - the team is working tirelessly to ensure everything is completed on time.
鈥淲e make posters that we鈥檙e handing out so that more people know about what we do and can donate (to our cause),鈥� said Pi.
鈥淲e also help younger students (assemble) the bags during our packaging days,鈥� added Lily.
鈥淚t really breaks my heart looking at people on the streets and realizing they don鈥檛 have a home to go to at the end of the day,鈥� said Mya. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine what it would be to be hungry and cold.鈥�
鈥淚 hope that they are happy (to receive those bags) and feel joy in their heart,鈥� said Lily.
Stefan urges the Comox Valley community to donate woollen socks, toques, mitts/gloves, and scarves, before the last day for collecting donations on Dec. 5.
鈥淥ur greatest focus at the moment is men鈥檚 toques and then scarves for women, men, and non-binary people,鈥� said Stefan. 鈥淎nything that鈥檚 coming second-hand, we definitely welcome it, but it has to be in perfect condition.鈥�
The organizers are requesting XL sizes for men and non-binary people, and medium sizes for women.
Once all donations are received and packaged, students will take the streets from Dec. 9-12 to hand out their 鈥榖ags of hope.鈥�
Donations drop boxes are present at the following schools: Ecole Puntledge Park, Courtenay Elementary, Valley View Elementary, Lake Trail Middle School, Huband Elementary, Queneesh Elementary, Miracle Beach Elementary, Cumberland Community School, NIDES School, Ecole Robb Road, Arden Elementary, Aspen Elementary, Hornby Community School, G.P. Vanier, Mark. R. Isfeld, Highland Secondary, as well as Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Academy
Other community donation drop box locations are situated at the Comox Community Centre, Comox Library, Courtenay Library, Starbucks (near Boston Pizza), Uptown Yarns, 台湾MM裸聊室 Community Credit Union (near Superstore), Evergreen Club (Florence Filberg Centre), RE/MAX Realty in Courtenay, Studio IPF: Inner Pursuit Fitness, and Cumberland Library.
For those who prefer financial contributions, EDAS offers e-transfers at donate2ComoxValley@edas.ca
Cheques, made payable to 鈥楨DAS鈥� or 鈥楨verybody Deserves A Smile,鈥� are also accepted.
鈥�(It鈥檚 fantastic) watching students so eagerly wanting to step into this work, give up recess, grow compassion, and explore their leadership skills,鈥� said Stefan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also super inspiring to see our staff and students lean into this work and make a difference.鈥�
Stefan notes that a small act of compassion can make a big difference in someone鈥檚 life.
鈥淎 lady last year pulled me into her apartment and showed me all the EDAS cards that she had gotten over the years and she was just so thrilled to share this,鈥� said Stefan. 鈥淚t meant so much to her.
鈥淥ur hope (is to make) people feel like they matter and that they鈥檙e seen.鈥�
RELATED: Comox Valley鈥檚 Everybody Deserves A Smile campaign up and running for 2022
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