<div>My name is Patrick O'Reilly, and I am raising funds to support a project called *Step Out of The Cold* in partnership with Fellowship Services. This initiative was created to help members of our local community who are experiencing homelessness and hardship during the harsh winter months.
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<div>In St. Thomas, there are approximately 175 people currently facing homelessness. While there are already organizations providing important necessities such as hats, gloves, coats, scarves, snow pants, and food, there is still a critical gap that often goes unseen — access to warm, dry footwear and winter boots. Without proper footwear, individuals are forced to walk through snow, slush, and freezing temperatures in unsafe conditions, putting them at serious risk of frostbite, illness, and injury.
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<div>This cause is deeply important to me because every person deserves dignity, warmth, and safety, especially during the coldest times of the year. Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference in someone’s life. A warm pair of boots can mean protection, comfort, and hope for someone who may feel forgotten.
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<div>The funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward purchasing winter boots, thermal socks, and other cold-weather essentials for individuals in need within our community. Every donation, no matter the amount, will help provide warmth and protection to someone struggling to survive the winter.
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<div>St. Thomas and the surrounding area are home to approximately 43,000 people. We are asking our community to come together and help support this mission to provide winter boots and cold-weather essentials to those experiencing homelessness and hardship.
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<div>If each person donated just $1, we would meet — and likely exceed — our fundraising goal. Small acts of kindness truly add up and can make a life-changing difference for someone facing winter without proper footwear.
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<div>Please consider helping with as little or as much as you can. Every donation matters, every share helps, and every act of compassion brings warmth, dignity, and hope to someone in need.
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<div>Once our fundraising goal has been reached and supplies have been distributed, the individuals who receive support will have the opportunity — if they choose — to share a comment, personal story, or message of thanks. With their permission, these messages may also be accompanied by a photo and shared on fellowshipservices.ca so that our community can see the real impact their generosity has made.
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<div>Our hope is that donors will not only know their contributions helped someone in need, but also be able to look back and see the lives they touched, the warmth they provided, and the hope they helped restore through their kindness.
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<div>I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to read, share, or contribute to this fundraiser. Together, we can help people in our community step out of the cold and into a safer, warmer future.
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Trevor McKillop

Anonymous

Isabelle Jones

Step Out of The Cold

Still $6,645 to go. Help us build momentum.