The Kindness of Strangers

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This article was published 02/12/2023 (710 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Regardless of religious affiliation or faith, the holiday season can be the best and worst of times.

I am fortunate to have many happy memories of this season as a child. And while I wasn’t oblivious to my circumstance then, I appreciate the precarious nature of our existence at that time much better now than when I was a kid.

As a young child, my sister and I were raised by a single mother on welfare in a trailer park in one of the poorest parts of the country. Were it not for the protection of the province, we would have lost our trailer to a finance company and been homeless.

My mother was fortunate to receive welfare as she put herself through university. This eventually led to a job, a new path and a different life.

Even as a seven-year-old, it’s not lost on you that a good job was the difference between eating out of a can every night or having fresh fruit and vegetables available. It was also clear that the new job and new life came as a result of a post-secondary education.

It was only later I would come to learn that many of those merry Christmases during the lean years came with the support and kindness of strangers. Yes, love was very important to a happy Christmas, but oranges, turkey, candy canes, and presents are key parts of those memories for me as well.

The concept of Santa requires certain beliefs in magic and leaps of faith. Explaining a Santa that favours rich over poor really kills the magic.

Fortunately, my mother was able to obtain support from various charities and agencies that would attempt to make sure as many kids as possible would experience a holiday season that had food, warmth, and even presents.

Throughout Manitoba we have many organizations and agencies dedicated to this same purpose. We are fortunate to live in a province of abundance with a people possessing a generosity of spirit that supports such goals.

The Assiniboine Community College Students’ Association (ACCSA) has spearheaded “Project Red” for the last number of years. Project Red is an annual holiday campaign put on in collaboration with the Assiniboine Community College Foundation.

The purpose is to ensure that all ACC students are supported during the holidays in the form of a holiday hamper, to ease the stress of financial burdens. With inflation and the elevated cost of food, the students’ association has seen an overwhelming response of hamper applicants compared to last year.

In 2022, they had 33 students apply for hampers. This year they had 96 applications in the first four days! This is why they need your support for this initiative.

The average age of an ACC student is 29. As such, many students have families they are trying to support while attending college. We want to make sure that this holiday season is comfortable for those families.

I recognize that in addition to students, many are feeling stretched these days. Further, many of you will have a variety of charities and important causes that you support.

At the same time, I know many of you will be keen to do what you can to support those in need at this time of the year, so I wanted to make sure you were aware of this important initiative.

If you are interested to learn more or donate you can go to accstudents.com/project-red.

Best wishes to one and all for current and upcoming holiday season and health and happiness for 2024.

» Mark Frison is president of Assiniboine Community College