MacEwan students partner with Boyle Street to create life essentials kits for homeless population

Boyle Street and MacEwan University students built life kits with everyday essential items to help the homeless during the colder months.

In a joint effort to support Edmonton’s homeless population, MacEwan health studies students have partnered with Boyle Street Community Services for the fourth year to create around 100 intentionally-gathered care packages.

Sleeping bags, winter coats, socks, journals, tarps, blankets, hydrating drinks and sometimes even dog food can be found in the Boyle Street backpacks, also known as “life kits,” meant to support vulnerable people with high-quality items.

MacEwan students focus on collecting donations of items and funds while the organization works to distribute them.

On Thursday, Boyle Street members and MacEwan students gathered at the university to begin assembling the bags.

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“(The students and faculty) work really intentionally with us to think about what items people actually need, rather than just what people assume they need,” said Kassidy Green, Boyle Street development manager.

The life kit collaboration between the two groups began when David Danto, the dean of MacEwan’s health faculty, began connecting with students, faculty, alumni and community partners to support people experiencing homelessness.

“We have a diverse array of programs and departments, but all of them really share in common deep care and concern for the well-being of the community,” Danto said on Thursday.

To honour their long-standing collaboration, MacEwan and Boyle Street both signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year to renew their intention of working together in the downtown neighbourhood they share.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Sean McClune