Letter Re: The Back Pack Project Christmas Campaign

Date: October 29th, 2018

To: Mayor and Council for View Royal

Re: The Back Pack Project Christmas Campaign

Dear Mayor Screech and Honorable Council Members,

I am writing to you in hopes you will consider supporting my organisation, over the next 6 weeks. We are asking all 13 Municipal City Halls within the greater Victoria Region, if you would consider having a donation bin at City Hall, to collect donations from members of your community, for our Back pack project.

The Backpack Project is an annual local initiative, which provides backpacks full of necessities and comfort items on Christmas Day, to community members who are experiencing homelessness. This will be our 10th year of operation.

The Holidays are a time when families and friends come together and celebrate. Sadly, not everyone in our community is that fortunate….. We want to make the Holidays as inclusive as possible by providing Backpacks full of necessities such as toiletry items, towels and warm clothing, and comfort items such as food, and warm blankets to marginalised people who do not have homes in our community, and who are often forgotten.

By providing us with a drop off location, we hope to collect enough donations to fill hundreds of back packs with necessities and comfort items which will help a huge population of people who are currently experiencing homelessness throughout The Greater Victoria Region.

The back packs are then delivered to local women’s shelters and community shelters, and are also handed out personally to people who we see in each of our communities, that call the streets their home.

We would need the space for 6 weeks. Starting November 1st to December 14th We would have volunteers collect donations from the boxes once a week, or as needed.

If you could please consider this request, and respond as soon as you are able, we would appreciate it. Your support helps bring hope and dignity to vulnerable people in our community, on Christmas day and throughout the year.

If you need any more information, or have any questions, please feel free to call or e-mail me anytime. Thank you for your consideration in supporting my cause.

Sincerely,

*Niki Ottosen Back Pack Project Victoria B.C.