The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Pecembet 23, 1992 - Page A3 |Help for | Money for homeless floods in needy in place TERRACE — Ali the dona- tions of food and toys collected over the past month for needy people are being distributed this week. Distribution of the Salvation Army hampers began Monday. TERRACE — Organizers of a who smiled broadly and handed campaign to help the homeless hina cheque for $1,000. say they’re overwhelmed by the ‘It’s a steady stream of support gencrousity of local people. coming in,'’ said Paul Burton, ad- Gerry King, an advocate for the ding there seems to be wide- poor with the Terrace Anti- ranging public support. . ‘Every Poverty Group Society, said day there’s more people phoning people are giving generously toa wanting to help.”” fund sct up last week to establish © Meanwhile the ad hoc group a shelter for the homeless. that has formed to combat home- Local businesses helped print lessness has received pennission 1,000 plasticized ‘Daisy’ buttons. to use the auditorium at the Volunteers have been giving out Skeena Health Unit as an Amny Licutenant Mike Hoeft the buttons for asmall donation....- temporary emergency. shelter. for said that while most have been “It's just whatever people can homeless. picked up as of today, he’ll be afford,’’ said Deirdre McEwan. Organizers were atlempting to available for cmergencies “The response has been just find securily to staff the shelter, today and tomorrow morning. tremendous.” adding they hope to have it open The Salvation Army’s She said she had expected most this week. hamper headquarters is located people to give a loonie for a but- And Bill Anderson, area man- ton. Most people have given ager for the ministry of social ser- incre, McEwan said, adding one ——- Vices, says moncy might be found resident gave $60 as they were if a local group comes up with a in an empty storefront beside Kondola’s = Furnilure = on Hwy16, Meanwhile, plans are in setting up their table in the mall. good proposal for an emergency place for the Army’s Christ- She said several hundred dollars — shelter. mas Day meal for single was raised in the first few days “Pm guardedly optimistic,’ he people. selling buttons. said, adding money had carllier And that doesn’t include anoth- = this year been approved for a er donation made before the bul- — sheller for single men, but was lons were cven printed, King was reallocated to developing a approached last week by a man women’s shelicr in Kitimat. Alcohol killed Daisy TERRACE — A local coroner says the woman who died under a tarp on a vacant city lot Nov. 28 was the victim of liver disease — nol hypothermia. Inilial reports thal 52-year-old Daisy Mae Wesley froze to death have prompted local residents to renew efforts to set up a shelter for the city’s homeless. ‘She didn’t freeze to death,’’ coroncr Wayne Braid said last week. He said a final coroner’s report on her death might not be ready for several weeks yet. But Braid said a preliminary report from the pathologist indicates she dicd of advanced liver disease. RCMP had earlier indicated she died of exposure. Weather office records indicate the temperature that day ranged from a low of -1.5 degrees Celsius to a high of 0.8. Also recorded at the Terrace-Kitimat airport was 7.2 cm of snow and 1.2 mm of rain. People who have joined a campaign to find homes for the homeless say the coroner’s finding doesn’t change their commitment “It’s irrelevant the cause of her death,” said Gerry King of the Ter- race Anti-Poverty Group Society. ‘‘She was out under a tarp and had no home.” To blame her death on her alcoholism is to blame the viclim, King said, and thereby deny that the problem of homelessness aeeds to be addressed. “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing,” says Deirdre McEwan, quoling scripture. “This is unconditional help we’re talking about it,”’ she says. ‘Even NATHAN SOUCIE shows off the Daisy campaign button his father received after making a dona- it some of these peo angina it gether ther if they can't get tion. Organizers say there’ s been a tremendous response to their campaign to help the homeless. all alcohol —— don't we owe 1 10 ourselves [0 Help tem anyway: 1 . : ween deemed opevh gues teey It takes place at noon al the Salvation Army church on Walsh Ave. Those altending will also receive a small hamper to take home. Hoelt said a meal for singles replaces larger hampers of foodstuffs. That’s because single people may not have complete cook- ing facilities. And while (he Salvation Army continues its distribu- tion, the Golden Rule Society is ready for tomorrow. Christmas Eve is the day when the society distributes its goody bags to needy people. As was the case last year, volunteers with the Golden Rule Society will be located in the building just behind the alternate school on Lakelse Ave, Distribution begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m., says society spokesman Juanita Halton. Winners of the socicty’s raf- fle, held to raise money for the poody bags, will be announced noon tomorrow on AMS9, said Hatton. The aim of the society is lo provide enough food to last throughout Christmas week. oils Like to take th ish everyone a Safe ani Happy Holiday Season. Vv 4 ret Aa CTEL EPO LEE T YF TEP ep ag TEL ITEP EE ee, + 7 CELT bP PETE PREFER TASTER EEY ECCT EPFL EPpy re o ' ond the holiday with thei family and friends.