Veteran braving Winnipeg winter to help others in city
Posted December 10, 2024 4:45 pm.
Last Updated December 10, 2024 8:17 pm.
Winnipeg veteran Trevor Sanderson is braving the cold for 10 days to bring holiday cheer to his community and he’ll be collecting donations of toys and food for a free Christmas dinner as he does.
“All I want to do is make this a special Christmas for kids,” said Sanderson in an interview with CityNews.
Set up at the corner of Higgins Avenue and Main Street as he spearheads the effort, saying he wants to bring everyone to the table.
“If 500 people show up that would be incredible,” he said. “That’s what community is all about. This dinner was donated by the community and is 100 per cent for the community.”
Sanderson started the camp on Dec. 4 and he plans to stay put until Dec. 14, currently residing in an ice-fishing tent outfitted with a portable heater and armed with a military-grade sleeping bag, he’s set to endure Winnipeg’s frigid temperatures, expected to dip to what feels like almost – 40 C this week.
The camp out is deeply personal to Sanderson, saying in the past he’s been homeless and has battled with addiction, saying he knows firsthand why those in need deserve support.
“The first year I ended-up feeding 123 kids and families and handing out 300 gifts,” said Sanderson. “The following year I decided to do it again and I slept out here and gathered enough food for 250 people and 600 or 700 toys.”
Although Sanderson paused the fundraiser during the pandemic, he has already collected enough food this year to feed up to 500 people and says the support has been overwhelming.
Donations of food and toys have been rolling in steadily, including a recent contribution from Kinsmen Canada, bringing the current grand total to roughly 700 presents, but he stressed all donations – big or small – are welcome.
“I’ve had people walk up to me and give me the last 30 cents they have in their pocket and say: ‘You know this isn’t a lot, but at least I can contribute. I would like to contribute.’ And that is so heartwarming.”
Donations, which are still being collected, will go toward funding the free Christmas dinner, which is set to take place at the Ukrainian Labour Temple on Pritchard Avenue on Dec. 14.
