Frappiers banking on generosity to keep the homeless warm

As any Sudburian knows, our winters can be bone-achingly frigid. A local family is determined to make sure the city's homeless population is properly dressed to face the elements.

The Frappier family — parents Dan and Huguette and daughters Mélanie-Rose and Darquise — has teamed up with Scotiabank to collect new gloves, hats and scarves for the homeless.

The items will be distributed to clients of the Out of the Cold Shelter in the former police station, which operates during the winter months.

“We always have discussions as a family to look at what we can do to help out,” Huguette said. “We've been doing it ever since our daughters were born.”

Mélanie-Rose — a first-year Laurentian University health promotion student who has won many awards for her volunteerism, including a 2015 Community Builders Award from Northern Life — said she's glad to help.

“We wanted to do something special during the winter to help our community, and the idea just popped up,” she said.

“As we all know, in Sudbury the winters are very, very cold. Any way we can help is very important. I believe helping one person, even if it's just giving gloves, can brighten up their day.”

Darquise, a Grade 6 student at École Félix-Ricard, was a finalist for the Me to We Canadian Living Award for her own volunteer efforts. She said she enjoys working with her big sister to help others.

“It's sort of fun helping people when my sister is around,” she said.

Donations of new gloves, hats and scarves can be dropped off at any Scotiabank location in the Greater Sudbury area during the month of November.

The bank got involved after the Frappier family asked for a small cash donation to bolster the project.

“I think it's awesome,” said Michele Bertrand, Scotiabank's Sudbury community manager. “For these two young ladies to come up with this and to be giving their time and giving back to the community, I think it's fabulous.”