Surrey, B.C. – A group six of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) students are working to “make tomorrow easier” as they rally community support to help the homeless in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
“We believe that everyone one wants to help, but not everyone has the time or money. As business students, we saw an opportunity to make it easy for others to give back by sharing our own time and marketing experience,” said Michelle Lashin, one of the six co-founders of Project Hastings, a student-run organization that sells care packages to help the homeless.
The team – comprised of four Surrey residents and two from Vancouver – have already delivered 200 care packages, half of which went to the Surrey Lookout Society homeless shelter last Saturday. Before their project ends March 28, Project Hastings hopes to inspire others by showing that the connection between the community and a cause can affect positive change.
“With just eight weeks, we know we’re not going to be ending homelessness, but together, as a community, we’re able to make a difference in a lot of people’s lives,” said Surrey resident Antony Le, one of the students behind Project Hastings. “We also hope this inspires others to start up their own projects to give back.”
Care packages provide not only basic necessities, but also emotional support by reminding recipients that someone out there cares about them. Each care package includes a fleece blanket, gloves, socks and two food tokens that can be redeemed for two sandwiches at Save On Meats. They also include a handwritten note of encouragement from the team.
The KPU students hope to sell and deliver 500 care packages by the end of March, which will hopefully mean a lot of assemblies and deliveries for Project Hastings over the coming weeks.
Individuals and organizations are welcome to donate. Recently, Project Hastings received an order for over 20 care packages from Houle Electric. Care packages and more information can be found at ProjectHastings.com.
For business inquiries or larger orders, contact projecthastings@outlook.com. Project Hastings can also be followed on Facebook and Instagram for project updates.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has served the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 learners. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs in business, liberal arts, design, health, science and horticulture, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 120 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at kpu.ca.
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