‘Deaths happening every night’: London, Ont. woman has passion for helping homeless stay warm

A Londoner and her group of volunteers are working hard to keep the homeless population warm during extremely cold temperatures.

For more than two decades, Donna Atkinson-Wilson has been helping the homeless in London, Ont.

The founder of the Keeping Kids Warm charity, Wilson, and her team of volunteers were hanging toques, scarves and gloves in the trees at Victoria Park on Sunday afternoon.

“This week has just been horrendous for homeless folks,” said Atkinson-Wilson.

“The weather has brought so much tragedy to so many homeless people that there’s been deaths that have been happening every night. The warming centres are helping a lot of people, but in my opinion, they didn’t open them in time.”

She has a group of people who knit the items, and Sunday she had over 100 pieces to hang in the park.

She was also headed to Boyle Community Centre in east London to distribute items.

“It’s free for everybody and anybody,” said Atkinson-Wilson.

“We have so many wonderful people making these items for us that we always have lots and we’re always wanting to share them.”

Her passion for charity began more than five decades ago, when her younger brother got frostbite and nearly froze to death.

Her son, Jason Wilson, is one of her volunteers, and the driving force behind keeping her going.

“She’s one of a kind,” said Wilson.

“I cherish her with 1,000 per cent of my heart. She’s just one of those women that will be remembered for many good reasons. She says year after year she’s going to quit, but she’s got great volunteers who help her. We’re blessed for those people who help my mom.”

Atkinson-Wilson will turn 70 this year, and she said this will likely be the last time she’s involved. She’s said that before, but her health continues to decline.

“It just breaks my heart, and I have to do something,” said Atkinson-Wilson.

“I’m going to be at City Hall on Tuesday for the rally for the unhoused. I just wish that people would notice that there is a real serious problem here in London.”