Project Winter Survival declares war on death by exposure

TORONTO, Jan. 14, 2015 /CNW/ - While the threat of personal safety and well being by radical extremists continues to be a growing concern for citizens of the world, here at home those less fortunate must do battle with a volatile and unforgiving adversary responsible in the death of three homeless men. In response to a growing need for life saving necessities to help those less fortunate survive winter on the streets, Project Winter Survival will pack 3,000 winter survival kits for distribution to those in need through 150+ homeless shelters, social service agencies, and outreach providers situated across the GTA and surrounding areas: Saturday, January 17, 2015; 8:30 am- The Bargains Group, 890 Caledonia Road.

"The growing plight of our city's homeless goes from critical to deadly in extreme weather conditions," said Jody Steinhauer, Project Winter Survival founder. "We have already suffered fatalities among our homeless community. No one should die from the cold. Unfortunately, the 3000 kits that we provide can only offer marginal relief."

THE RIGHT TO LIFE FOR GTA HOMELESS

Now in its 16^th year, Project Winter Survival is an Engage and Change initiative committed to helping those less fortunate endure the hardships of winter by providing such necessities for the needy as: sleeping bags, blankets, winter hats, toiletries, bottled water and healthy snacks, etc. "Project Winter Survival has become a life-line for those agencies who front-line poverty and homelessness," said Steinhauer. "These kits have become a vital tool to help outreach providers approach those living on the streets: to hopefully get them inside, eventually get them into transitional housing and end the cycle of poverty.

Since its inception in 1999 and including this campaign, Project Winter Survival will have packed and distributed 26,000 survival kits to those at risk of death by exposure to the elements, and relies solely on corporate and community donations to meet the growing demands of relief agencies and shelters across the GTA.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.projectwintersurvival.org or www.engageandchange.org.

MEDIA SCHEDULE: THE BARGAINS GROUP, 890 CALEDONIA ROAD, TORONTO
8:30 AM - PACK TO COMMENCE
12:00 PM - PRESS CONFERENCE
12:30 PM - AGENCY PICK-UP
TIME TBD - KIT DISTRIBUTION TO THE HOMELESS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE

SOURCE Project Winter Survival

Francisca Gambino, francis G communications, 416-432-4599 or [email protected]