Fifty homeless men and women are set to receive a specially designed backpack thanks to a donation from an auto dealer.
The Citypak was designed four years ago by a Chicago businessman who wanted to give those living on the streets a backpack that met their specific needs.
Now, 50 of the backpacks will be distributed to Abbotsford residents thanks to Wolfe Auto Group. This will mark the second year the company has donated 750 of the packs to Lower Mainland organizations and the first they will be distributed in Abbotsford. The Abbotsford Inter-Agency Care Team will distribute the packs. Union Gospel Mission helped co-ordinate the donation to the city.
The Citypaks include a hideaway poncho that covers both the wearer and the backpack, along with a plethora of pockets, including ones designed to protect documents and identification.
“The donation of these multi-use backpacks has illustrated for me just how important it is for government, businesses and the community to work together to address homelessness,” Mayor Henry Braun said in a press release.
Tristan Schon of Wolfe Auto Group said the reception for last year’s donation convinced the company to repeat the donation again in 2017.