'It makes me feel good': 9-year-old girl launches a project to help Montreal's homeless population
When it comes to her ambition, skills and all-around savviness, Kyra Milan Brown is more like a nine-year-old going on 30, the adults around her agree.
“She’s amazing. She also inspires me. How does she have the confidence to just go out there and do those things?” said Loreena Gabriel, a 35-year-old family friend who’s teamed up with Brown on a project to help members of Montreal’s homeless population this winter.
The duo is collecting an assortment of warm outerwear along with toiletries and snacks to hand out to people downtown on Dec. 8 who are living on the streets.
“Because it’s closer to winter and it’s very cold here I thought it was a good idea, so we just started,” Kyra explained.
They're inviting anyone who can to drop off items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash, hand cream, sanitizers, masks, snacks, reusable water bottles and warm articles of clothing like socks, hats and gloves at the following locations by Dec. 8:
GIVING BACK RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Kyra comes by her generosity of spirit naturally. “My mom used to go to the women’s shelter and do their nails, so I got influenced because she helped people so I want to help people too,” she said.
And for the last couple of years, her family has been handing out what Kyra calls ‘kare bags’ to people they would encounter in their daily travels.
“It makes me feel good because I have this beautiful house with all this stuff inside,” the young Longueuil resident said.
“Not everybody gets to have this but it makes me feel good that I’m helping them and maybe just bringing them a step closer to having this, you know?”
The director of the Old Brewery Mission is especially impressed that Brown and Gabriel have decided to hand the gifts out themselves, saying that takes “courage,” calling them “his heroes.”
“We see too much of the exact opposite, which is people feeling scared and nervous around homeless people, stepping around them, not making eye contact,” said James Hughes.
“Sometimes the opportunity to make human contact, to acknowledge the existence of someone, to acknowledge their common humanity,” he said, can make someone’s day.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
A similar mantra has guided Gabriel for some time. She is focused on the idea of lifting others in her community, so she can change lives, break "generational cycles," her website says, and build confidence.
That led her to create The Crown Project, an organization that has held seven similar winter drives in the past, among other charitable activities.
She also opens a regular pop-up shop around graduation time that hands out free suits and dresses to help “underprivileged millennials and Gen Z” students in Montreal look and feel their best.
“It’s just something I always wanted to do - to help others. I’m not rich, I didn’t grow up rich. In high school, in grade 11, I had two jobs so I could pay for prom and graduation and stuff,” said Gabriel, who now works in public relations.
And having worked downtown, she said she was struck by the numbers of homeless people who have to live rough especially during our harsh winters months, some freezing to death.
“I know this is only a small little thing that we’re doing but hopefully it helps and hopefully more people get involved to help the homeless population,” she said.
“It’s absolutely wonderful,” said Hughes, when asked what he thought of the pair’s initiative.
“We're all part of this system of care,” said Hughes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.