An Okotoks youth is pitching in to help the homeless.
For six years running, Hannahlyn Clifford has been putting together backpacks with essential items such as toques, gloves, toiletries and treats.
“For the past six years, we have been running Hannahlyn’s Backpacks, she puts together backpacks for the homeless with toiletries,” said Hannahlyn’s mom Leanne Clifford.
After Halloween, the mom/daughter duo put out the call asking for leftover Halloween candy, a treat they like to include in the bags.
Filling over 100 bags each year, Hannahlyn and her mom Leanne are looking for donations, putting out the call on the Facebook page Hannahlyn’s Backpacks.
“We usually need gloves – the thing that makes them the happiest is just getting something simple like a brand new pair of socks or gloves,” Leanne said.
They have also posted that for anyone wishing to make a cash donation, they will provide receipts showing the funds went straight into the cause.
Local businesses have also partnered up to collect donations: Evan’s Carpet Care will be donating a portion of their profits through the month of November, and Drake Landing Dental has offered to take any spare Halloween candy or donations on Hannahlyn's behalf.
While 12-year-old Hannahlyn has special needs, and was largely non-verbal earlier in her life, mom has seen her daughter light up at the activity of loading backpacks.
“She likes to pack bags, and we started when she was just six years old,” Leanne said. “Being that she's special needs, and it’s never too young to start giving back, it’s just something she likes to do.”
As various groups get involved, Hannahlyn’s been able to expand her social interactions, said mom, with the groups reporting back the positive mark she’s leaving on the community.
“She’s getting a lot better, she’s been meeting a lot of people and groups,” Leanne said. “Even the homeless people are starting to know; we have friends that go downtown and a lot of the homeless people are asking for Hannahlyn’s Backpacks by name, so they know they’re coming from her.
“That’s getting pretty cool that the know they came from a 12-year-old girl.”
For more information or to donate, email Leanne Clifford at [email protected] or visit facebook.com/hannahlynbackpacks.
