Life Kits
Annual Life Kit Drive
Starting with our very first fundraising tournament in 1996, providing life kits to the homeless has been our main short term initiative. The primary goal of the Life Kits has been to help the Homeless survive the bitter-cold winters on the streets of our cities but the kits are also used by outreach workers across Canada as a way to reach out and build relationships with homeless individuals in their community.
A total of 50 life kits were distributed on the streets of Toronto that first year but, based on feedback from the homeless and local outreach experts, the Hockey for the Homeless volunteers recognized that many more kits would be needed to make a difference. Since that first eye-opening experience in 1996, Hockey for the Homeless along with its generous sponsors, participants, suppliers and volunteers has assembled and distributed more than 15,000 life kits to people actually living on the streets across Canada.
What is a Life Kit?
Though the contents of Hockey for the Homeless life kits change from year to year based on feedback from the homeless and outreach experts in the community, the following items have been staples throughout the years: Sleeping Bag, Hat, Mitts/Gloves, Socks, Water, Flashlights, Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Shampoo, Deodorant, Hairbrush and ready to eat foods. All contents are stored in a sturdy backpack for targeted distribution by our local outreach partners. Most of the items contained in the Life Kits are donated by our Corporate and Individual sponsors or purchased at discounted rates through financial donations received at our Annual Hockey for the Homeless Tournaments.
If you are interested in donating contents for Life Kits, please contact our Director of Operations or one of your local committee members.
