By Asha Siva

As winter approaches, students have begun to put on our winter gear and make holiday treats. For those of us who spend time outside, we are sure to bundle up and hurry home. Inside our homes, toasty and warm, we can enjoy everything winter has to offer, safe from the bitterness of Toronto winters.

But what happens when you have nowhere to go to hide from the cold? What happens to the homeless population when winter comes along?

According to Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey, 20% of the homeless population in Canada is youth between the ages of 13-24.

So Richview, what can we do? As it turns out, quite a bit. If you’re short on time but want to make an impact, something as simple as donating to a local shelter will increase housing, allowing more people to be taken off the streets. Another way to help out is to do your holiday shopping at stores that donate proceeds to homeless shelters. With online shopping organizations such as the Amazon Smile program, this is a no brainer.

For do gooders with more time on their hands, spreading holiday cheer will make an even bigger impact. Donating old winter gear and warm clothes will make a world of difference to those living on the streets.

To take it a step further, leading or participating in a holiday gift drive is extremely helpful. From toys to hygiene products to food, a life can be saved. Donating food is important. It immensely helps soup kitchens and shelters in addition to reducing food wastage.

Most importantly, if you see someone in danger from the cold weather, call 3-1-1. This line will connect you to city professionals and potentially save someone’s life.

So while you enjoy winter break this year, consider how you can spread that holiday cheer with the less fortunate.

Happy holidays Richview!