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      Building the Blue Sky City

      Our annual Christmas donation drive is a cherished tradition born from our commitment to making a positive impact in our community. Since our support of the Calgary Drop-In Centre (the DI) began in 2004, we've been proud to organize some of the largest in-kind donations and raise awareness of one of the Top Impact Charities in Calgary.

      Thank you to our clients, friends, families, and partnerships for making this holiday season brighter for those in need.

      Over the past two decades, SANDSTONE and our clients have helped give:

       

      • 7,000 pairs of socks
      • 4,100 towels
      • 1,000 warm winter items
      • 10,500 razors
      • 2,200 toothbrushes
      • 700 pairs of underwear 
      • 1,740 hygiene items . . . and a partridge in a pear tree! 

      SIP IT FORWARD

      This year, we're giving A gift STEEPED IN PURPOSE.

      The Calgary Drop-In Centre aims to distribute 1,000 “stockings” – backpacks filled with essential items – to those staying at their shelter during the holidays. These items are crucial for the individuals and families who rely on the DI for support, especially during Calgary’s winter months.

      In support of this effort, we’ve chosen to contribute reusable cups and water bottles. These items are among the greatest needs at the DI, helping visitors stay hydrated, reduce waste, and have something they can use every day. With your help, we can make this Christmas season a little warmer and more practical for those in need.

      Additional items on the DI's "Christmas Stockings Wishlist" include toothbrushes, toothpaste, chocolate bars, socks, handwarmers, gloves, scarves, chapstick, gift cards, holiday cards, combs, Kleenex, and knit hats. You are welcome to contribute any of these to our donation drive too.

      Three Easy Ways to Donate

       

      7Bring your donation to SANDSTONE (115, 101 - 6th Street SW).

      8Arrange a pick-up for large donations.

      9Make a donation and we’ll do the shopping for you.

      For options 2 & 3, please contact Madison at (403) 218-6125 to make arrangements. Donations accepted until Thursday, December 12, 2024.

      About the Calgary Drop-In Centre

      For many individuals, homelessness is the unfortunate reality when affordable housing is out of reach, or when income is lost due to illness or the need to escape an unsafe situation. Experiences of trauma, particularly in early childhood, often have lasting effects on a person’s mental and physical well-being. No matter the circumstances that bring someone to the Calgary Drop-In Centre (DI), their goal is always the same: to make visitors' time there as brief as possible.

      Long known as the “largest shelter in North America,” the DI began its transformation to being a housing-focused emergency shelter in 2017-18. Rather than creating a long-term “home” for people in shelter, the agency invested in new programs and trained housing specialists to help people exit homelessness and find their way home.

      For more than 60 years, the DI has been delivering emergency shelter, health services, community resources, and housing support to Calgarians in need. With more than 50 different programs and services, the DI meets people wherever they are and helps them move on to where they want to go.

      When you donate to the Calgary Drop-In Centre, you can be confident that your contribution is making a real difference. Charity Intelligence Canada reports that 90 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to supporting those in need. That’s impact you can feel good about.

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