With the month of February comes many cold days, especially here in Northern Ontario.
There hasn’t been a day gone by where someone didn’t mention to me how cold it is and how tired they are of it. Well, I’m tired of it too, quite frankly. But we have it better than others.
Proven by the situation that occurred at the Salvation Army the other night, only those that are on-the-record homeless may have somewhere warm to stay, if they may at all.
On days where it feels like your fingers will fall off if you stay outside for more than five minutes, there are people in your own city fighting to keep warm. I propose a set of ideas to bring about a positive change in Sudbury to help those in need find warmth.
If you have any unwanted outdoor garments, hang them on a tree. As silly as this may sound, it’s a quicker way of bringing warmth to those suffering through these frigid temperatures.
Next time I am in the downtown area, I will be tying scarves and hats to the branches of trees along the streets. If someone is without a hat, they may reach up and take one.
I hope all who read this will take the initiative and tie a scarf or a hat to a tree in the downtown area. Imagine what a sight it would be to see every tree along Elgin adorned with scarves and hats.
Another way of Paying it Forward is to actually pay it forward. From this day onward, every time I am at a Tim Hortons, I will give the cashier an extra toonie to pay for the person behind me.
To everyone who reads this: next time you’re downtown, look out for scarves hanging from the tree. And if your coffee at Tim Horton’s is ever paid for by the person ahead of you, please give an extra $2 to pay for the person behind you.
Vanessa Boric
Sudbury