‘Blessing bags’ filled with kindness for those in need

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on December 11, 2021.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman CCH Interact Club students and IRC coaches build "blessing bags" containing tooth paste, oranges, gloves, toques among other things, to be distributed among those in need, during a packing event Friday at the ATB Centre.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Indigenous Recovery Coaching Program has partnered with students from the Catholic Central High School Interact Club to spread kindness this holiday season to those in need.
“During our outreach hours, we were noticing an increase in our participants experiencing holiday blues, from living at the shelter or addiction,” said Cherie Shot Both Sides, Indigenous Recovery Coach from the IRC Program.
She added they thought it was a good idea to show there is a lot of people in the community that do care about them alongside the program. So they decided to reach out to Senator Buchanan Elementary School, to obtain words of encouragement cards, and they supplied them with over a 100.
Shot Both Sides said this initiative allows for younger students to support those struggling on the streets with thoughtful messages, and for the CCH Interact Club to work collaboratively with the IRC, while learning about their work, culture and traditional ways of healing.
Some of the outcomes that the CCH Interact Club is hoping to take away from the experience is to create a positive outlook for others.
“Doing something for other people, other than yourself and understanding the bigger problems in society and what you can do even as individuals to come together and make an impact on society,” said Julia Daminato, president of the CCH Interact Club.
She added they hope to encourage the youth in our society to step up and help out the community.
Daminato said they had funds from last year, which they used to purchase toques, mittens, socks, toothpaste, hand warmers and chapsticks to place in the blessing bags.
Both groups came together on Friday at the ATB Centre to combine their efforts and supplies to create “Blessing Bags”, that contain words of encouragement from Senator Buchanan Elementary School students, toothpaste, gloves, toques and Christmas treats among other things.
The blessing bags will be distributed by the IRC coaches throughout the month of December until Christmas.

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