A group of Filipino-owned businesses are partnering together to help Lloydminsters most vulnerable this winter.
Leo Aguinaldo is a community advocate and the organizer of the food drive to benefit the Lloydminster Social Action Coalition Society. He says with the upcoming change in weather, both the Men’s Shelter and the Drop-in Centre will be getting busier and will need some support.
“This is a very small community, but everyone is so giving even in tough times we have so much to offer. This is one of the small ways that me and my business partners can help out the community.”
Drop off boxes are located at Emco Lloydminster, You & I Massage Therapy, Canada Assist Immigration Services, Filetaxhere Bookkeeping Services, Rice Craving Asian Cuisine, Fabulash by Karen, Highlanders Store and Services and Kids Kingdom Day Care. Dark Horse Content Creatives will also be taking in donations and asks residents to text or message them for pick up.
“I hope people will get involved and donate what they can, but we would like for them to practice the safety protocols that each business has in place.”
Aguinaldo says the original plan was to collect donations solely for the Drop-in Centre, but after talking with one of the business partners, he says they switched to supporting the organization that runs both programs.
“The society does not have an enterprise division, other organizations in town have an enterprise division which helps their organization. For example, The Olive Tree has a store where they can make money and augment their meal programs. The Lloydminster Social Action Coalition does not have the capacity to do that.”
While not directly related, Aguinaldo mentions the Lloydminster and District Co-op will be holding a Food Bag Day on December 1st which will also support the Lloydminster Social Action Coalition Society. Residents will be able to purchase $10 or $20 bags at the Co-op Marketplace and the food will be donated to the organization.
Aguinaldo has organized several other projects which brought the local Filipino community together over the past few years. They include a tennis tournament to benefit The Olive Tree, a pyjama drive for the Lloydminster Interval Home emergency shelter and a blanket drive for the Men’s Shelter. He asks residents to get involved in their community all throughout the year.
“There are people who are experiencing something worse than us, who maybe have worse stories to tell than our stories. Get involved. This is a loving community and I would love to see people more involved in the community, not just during election time or during Christmas.”
The businesses will be taking in donations until December 22nd.