When you think of donations to the homeless for winter, you think of things like warm clothes, underwear, sweat pants and even socks — there's always a huge need for dry socks in any season.
But the director-general of the Old Brewery Mission, Matthew Pearce, says they're asking for a lot of things you wouldn't ordinarily think to donate, but that homeless people could really use.
"Detergent pods," Pearce told CJAD 800's Leslie Roberts, "because the clients do their own laundry and the detergent is something that we need in those capsules."
Pearce also lists things like disposable razors, locks for storage lockers, bus and metro tickets, and gift cards for various places, such as coffeeshops and supermarkets.
The list is endless, really — things like chewing gum, breath mints, canvas bags, and travel-size items such as toothpaste, shampoo and mouthwash are also in demand.
Pearce pointed out that the needs for various items has reflected a shift in the Old Brewery Mission's vocation over the past decade or so.
"For about 100 years, we've offered overnight accommodation, meals, and then after breakfast people would leave the building and come back at night," Pearce says. "But we've become aware that we have to become much more involved in getting homeless people to not be homeless anymore. Getting them back into society."
Housing, Pearce says, is the largest part of what his group deals with — and things like the gift cards, for example, are needed by those who've moved out of homelessness and into apartments.
Donations to the Old Brewery Mission can be made in person, day or night, at its headquarters at 915 Clark St., on the fringes of Old Montreal, or contact Christopher Quinn, the Mission's director of support services by e-mail at cquinn@missionoldbrewery.ca or by phone at 514 798-2244, extension 247.
And, of course, the group always accepts cash.