Students launch Beneath the Blanket to help homeless

Dec. 13, 2015

For the past three weeks, first-year Social Service Worker students Michelle White, Crystal Ferguson and David Watt have been busy brainstorming how to help the homeless population in Barrie and Orillia. With guidance from the Changemaker Club on campus, they launched Beneath the Blanket.

Anyone can help support their initiative by donating new and gently used blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing.

“This is the just the beginning,” says Crystal. “We are contacting organizations in Barrie and Orillia so that we can help them distribute these items where they are needed. In the future, we are looking to expand this initiative in order to build community capacity to address the systemic issues that cause homelessness in the first place.”

To date, the group has handed out hundreds of flyers, spoken to countless individuals on and off campus, and are really looking to engage with organizations in the community in order to fulfill their mission.

“The Changemaker Club has been great for students to develop their ideas around social change. The Beneath the Blanket project is the beginning of something that could be a major catalyst for change in our community,” says Jennifer Raftis, Changemaker Club president. “It is starting small, but project leads Michelle, Crystal and David have big plans for the future.”

For more information on the Beneath the Blanket initiative, email BeneathTheBlanket2015@gmail.com.

Donations may be dropped off at the Orillia Campus, Room B200.

Read more about Beneath the Blanket in this Orillia Packet story and watch the CTV News coverage.