The Everybody Deserves a Smile (EDAS) 2013 campaign is nearing its deadline.
EDAS volunteers, guided by founder Chantal Stephan, will bags this Thursday and Friday at École Puntledge Park. Joanna Finch, Brodie Dawson and Helen Austin will play music for young volunteers while they fill the bags.
Everybody Deserves a Smile creates care packages with warm socks, hats, mitts, scarves, cookies, and love inside hand-painted bags with cards that have been decorated by the community at large. Bags are distributed to those without homes throughout the Comox Valley, Victoria and Vancouver.
Stephan has involved schools, and kids have been busy with bags and cards.
"We're about connecting our communities across Vancouver Island and beyond through hands-on moments of kindness," Stefan explains.
"Our creed is 'Everybody is Somebody' and every Christmas we make care packages for people living on our streets. Every bag is hand-painted by students and filled with homemade Christmas cards and community donations.
The kids of École Puntledge Park Elementary will make 600 care packages that will go to 11 soup kitchens, shelters and support groups.
"Because it's our 10th year, I am running a team of teachers and this same project is running in six different school districts across Vancouver Island and Kamloops.
"Thank you being so strong, supportive and inspiring," Stefan tells supporters. "A combination that allows for anything to be possible."
For details, visit a Facebook page called Everybody Deserves A Smile.
— Everybody Deserves A Smile