Our SSVP Youth Conference from Holy Family Parish, London has completed our pilot project "On the Street" this past May 2017. It has been in the planning mode and on our list of NEW events for 2 ½ years. The success of it has given our team a whole new look at the needs and necessity of such a program within our city/communities, even if it is only done annually.

Connecting with partners in the community with our elementary schools was our first action plan. With the generous families, staff and principals from Notre Dame and St. Paul's schools we were able to build a foundation of supplies to distribute to our friends on the street. We are looking into adding new partners for next year and years to come.

Our supplies consisted of regular hygiene products (including feminine products, undergarments both men's and women's) and the other basic needs of persons.

We were blessed to have as well a donation from St. John the Divine Parish to supplement some of our purchases towards the much needed items on our list of essentials. Our own Youth Conference also spent $500.00 to cover the items such as tarps, nail clippers, small bottles and containers, snacks, crazy glue, cough lozenges, combs, power drinks, can openers, socks...etc, the list goes on.

We Set up the "On the Street" event on the corner of Horton and Wellington Streets on the same side as the Salvation Army mission to service our brothers and sisters. In 45 minutes we offered our wares to around 125 to 140 men and women.

Friends and families of our youth members attended and handed out these items and received the greatest gift of all, seeing the joy and love in the eyes and faces of those receiving. Their expressions of gratitude was beautiful to witness! We believe God was at work through our hands and feet. We are looking for future partners in this New and Annual Family event, if your heart wishes to help in anyway, please contact us in the future. God Bless all who were in partnership with us during this pilot project and to those who will join our fight to end poverty and serve those in need in the years to come.