The Shoebox project made its way into Owen Sound this year, in an effort to brighten the Christmases of at risk women and women in shelters.
The project was developed by four Toronto sisters who noticed children in shelters are often the recipients of holiday gift drives, but there was no such thing for their mothers.
The idea is to give the gift of some small luxuries to bring a smile to a woman's face. Shoeboxes are filled $50 worth of things like scarves, mittens, bath products, makeup, gift cards and treats.
The project has grown throughout Canada, and this year, includes Simcoe and Grey.
A drive was held locally, and in just a matter of days, over 20 shoeboxes were dropped off by people in the community to Bayshore Broadcasting Head office in Owen Sound.
They were picked up Monday (Dec 23rd) to be delivered by Shoebox Project Volunteers to women in the community.
Violence Prevention Grey Bruce's 2018 Snapshot of local violence report 339 domestic violence calls to police that year, 106 women and 36 children made use of a shelter in Grey Bruce in 2018.