How you can help make the holidays a bit nicer for the Kamloops women living in shelters

KAMLOOPS – If you’re looking to give something back to the community this holiday season, consider taking part in the Shoebox Project to help a local woman feel special.

Monique Bastemeijer is leading the Kamloops chapter of the nation-wide gift program, which assists women with lesser means feel pampered.

Bastemeijer says the charity has already received its first 40 boxes of the 300 she’s hoping for. The gifts will be delivered to shelters throughout the city

"I actually have a waitlist for some different organizations,” she says. “It’s something neat and it’s something different.”

Bastemeijer says the best gifts to include in a decorated box is an assortment. She advises something warm like mittens as well as chocolate or candy and a beauty product. Through inspecting the boxes she’s found some extra special gifts, like hand-knit mittens, a nice piece of jewelry and inspirational messages.

“It doesn’t have to be expensive. I always just think ‘what would I like?' I feel good when I look good,” she says.

There are some items Bastemeijer says the group won’t take. Any beauty products with alcohol, like hand sanitizer or mouthwash, cannot be included, along with shaving razors.

There are two locations where you can drop off your donated box. The TD Canada Trust bank at 500 Notre Dame Dr. and Abbot Wealth Management at 1211 Summit Dr.

To learn more about the program, visit www.shoeboxproject.com.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca or call 250-319-7494. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.