Socks, pyjamas, and perfume among items on Christmas wish list for Vernon’s homeless

VERNON – Vernon is once again helping to make Christmas wishes come true for the city’s less fortunate.

The Christmas Wish List is a collection of personal stories and wish lists from Vernon’s homeless and shelter clients.

Participants are interviewed about themselves, and the gifts that would make their Christmases brighter. The responses are then posted online, not with their real names, and members of the community can make pledges to make the wishes come true.

Some of this year’s wish list items include such items as socks, pyjamas, or a gift for the individual’s grandchild. Others have asked for things like laptops to help them pursue schooling, or just a bottle of sweet perfume.

“Many people want to help the homeless but are not sure how best to help. Some people are reluctant to give money because they want to ensure their gift will not be used in unhealthy ways,” the John Howard Society says in a media release. “The Christmas wish list is a way to provide direct, personal expressions of caring by delivering a gift or message directly to people that need it most.”

Once they’ve made a pledge, the community member can then send the gift, along with a letters or card, to the individual at the shelter, where staff will hand out the presents.

Vernon is one of nine cities participating in Canada, and the only location in the Okanagan.

Read the stories and make a pledge here.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.