Hello wonderful community of Salt Spring. My name is Alida, some of you may know I'm always collecting items to try to keep our community members living on very minimal budget comfortable, especially ones who are unhoused or under-housed.

I am always looking for sleeping bags, shoes, rain gear, boots, tents and anything possible to get them through the winter. I've been doing this for the past four years mostly out of my own pocket and with supplies donated by individuals, but I've reached the point where I need to ask the community for support in keeping this going.

This year I am hoping to buy some of these items. I have started a Gofundme campaign; all the funds will be spent on much-needed items and I will hand them out to the people needing them the most. Some of the items needed are:

- Sleeping bags
- Foam pads
- Tents
- Tarps
- Wool blankets
- Propane
- Camp stoves
- Mylar emergency blankets
- Rope
- Rain jackets and pants
- Thermal underwear
- Winter gloves
- Wool socks
- Rubber boots
- Rechargeable headlamps
- Gift cards for laundry and showers
- Grocery store gift cards
- Bus tickets
- Food supplies

Please donate to our Gofundme here, and feel free to spread the word; our community needs your help! Our target is $15,000 which will help upwards of 30 people:

https://gofund.me/9a597599

I am very involved in our community and very aware of who will take care of items well and who doesn’t which is important when you are spending donated money. Winters have been getting more severe with temperatures dropping below freezing, and the level of need has been increasing. I am hoping for your support so we can keep our less fortunate community members safe and warm.

Please feel free to contact me at ensilalida@gmail.com or 250-480-9897