Annual Sacks for Santa charity drive returns to help homeless youth this holiday season

Sacks for Santa has returned for it's fifth year. 

This annual charity drive, run by Windsor lawyer Francesca Provenzano from Greg Monforton & Partners, Injury Lawyers, is looking to help homeless youth this holiday season. 

Every holiday season for the past five years Provenzano has scoured the Windsor region for products to place in backpacks she distributes free of charge to homeless youth at the Windsor Youth Centre.

These backpacks contain an assortment of items, including hygiene products, winter gear, and non-perishable snacks, as well a handwritten holiday card with motivational quotes, and to remind youth they are not alone during the holiday's. 

The public are asked to donate items such as backpacks, blankets, socks, deodorant, soap and body wash, underwear, gloves and hats, bus tickets, hand sanitizer, water bottles, and non-perishable snacks.

Provenzano says this is a critical time to help those in need, and hopes that many backpacks can be prepared. 

"Last year we did about 400 backpacks. So I'm hopeful to do way more this year, and I'm hopeful to increase every year. The last four years, this is the fifth year, but in the last four years we've done over 1,000."

She says there is a wide range of items that can be donated.

"Hats, gloves, scarves, blankets, hoodies, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, any non-perishable snacks like protein bars and things that are a little more with sustenance, water bottles, gift cards for places like Tim Hortons and McDonald's, and obviously the backpacks."

Annual Sacks for Santa charity drive returns to help homeless youth this holiday season. November 7, 2023 (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Francesca Provenzano)

Provenzano adds that she's looking for more gender neutral items in terms of product scents and colours of winter gear.

"Alternately we're willing to accept obviously anything when it comes to these products, I'm sure the Windsor Youth Centre would be happy to receive them. But more gender neutral items just because the backpacks that I prepare are gender neutral just so they're more versatile for the kids at the centre."

Donations will be accepted until December 15, 2023, and will be distributed on Christmas Day of this year.

Provenzano will personally pick-up donation items, and can be reached at sacksforsanta@hotmail.com. 

Since 2019, Sacks for Santa has filled over 1,000 backpacks for youth in need.