The Stoney Nakoda Nation has identified a need for winter coats and gear this Christmas season.
A big need.
A call for a staggering 500-700 coats was put out by various Nation service groups, to be given out at the Bearspaw Youth Centre Dec. 4-5.
“There’s a lot of needy families out here…people still living out of trailers (in the temporary parks) who lost all their winter items in the flood,” said Autumn Eaglespeaker, manager of the Stoney Nakoda Food Bank.
Since the call was put out last week, various individuals from Cochrane and other communities have been working with non-profits, including the Rotary Club of Calgary Olympic, to collect gently used coats and winter gear for those in need.
According to Eaglespeaker, there is a higher need for coats for male youth ages 8-13 and adult males; there is also a need for snow pants and for kids’ boots.
The Nation food bank is also running at maximum capacity, handing out some 40 hampers a day, four days a week.
A combination of the lingering effects from the June 20, 2013 flood and heavy rainfall, highly limited economic opportunities on-Nation and no public transportation to connect people with employment continues to snowball.
The Bow Valley Christmas Spirit Campaign is once again partnering with the Nation food bank to put together Christmas hampers, to be given out Dec. 22.
“The Stoney people are receiving a per capita donation this year from the three bands…we’re focusing on Nation children who aren’t registered band members,” said Eaglespeaker, adding that some 90 families are their target this Christmas.
Top items in need for the Nation food bank include baby food, diapers, baby formula, canned soup and peanut butter, Kraft Dinner and pasta.
Their hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Fridays 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. They can be contacted at 403-881-2766.
