Members of the Sundre High School Leo Club are raising money to put together care packages for women and children staying at the Central Alberta Women's Shelter in Red Deer.
As part of the initiative, Sundre RCMP officers have been paying club members to wash and detail RCMP vehicles -- $80 per vehicle.
Club members are also looking for people to donate items and drop them off at Sundre High School. On Dec. 6, club members will be driving around town collecting items people leave out on their lawns for the cause.
“We're going to drive around Sundre and if people leave garbage bags or duffle bags full of old clothes or toys for kids we will collect them and we will take them all up to the shelter,” said club member Connor Bourgonje.
Items they are asking for to give to women include shampoo, conditioner, tooth care, lotion, makeup, hairbrushes, feminine hygiene products, duffle bags, socks and clothes.
For children, members are asking for items like socks, pyjamas, tuques, mittens, blankets, teddies, toys, books, tooth care, duffle bags and towels.
Members will be putting together care packages for three different age groups including two and under, three to six and seven to 10 years old, along with packages for women. They are asking for gender-neutral items.
“We find that especially around holiday times the women shelters are really busy. And one thing about the leadership club is they really do care for women's rights,” said Bourgonje.
“We're just trying to help out as much as we can.”
It's his first year in the club and he joined because he wanted to help out in the community during his last year in high school.
“At this time of year if people would be willing to just reach into their pockets for people who really need the help it would be a huge help,” he said.
“I know we don't notice it much around here because if you don't experience it, it kind of goes under the radar – the whole issue of domestic abuse. And I mean people are really vulnerable especially at high stress times of the year like Christmas.”
