A disabled 91原创 senior is pulling together friends, family, and community members this weekend to assemble care packages for locals in need.
A few years ago, Ron Cares Society president Ron Bergen started his 91原创-based organization, which is built around providing packs with personal hygiene items for 91原创's homeless, seniors, and families in need.
This Saturday, the group is coming together for the better part of four hours, at St. Andrews Anglican Church (across from Derek Doubleday Arboretum) to collect donations and compile more packages.
He calls this weekend's event a kit-building open house and fundraising drive, the first of it's kind in the way of a public event where people can see what they do, Bergen told the 91原创 Advance Times.
He noted that while he and his team collect donations and compile the kits, he works with a dozen partner agencies in town who then distribute the packages to those in need 鈥� a growing number of them being 91原创 seniors.
"I really want to do this to show the community 鈥� to get the community encourage and involved."
He is trying to give people, regardless of age or ability, a chance to make a difference, Bergen shared.
"We're giving people a chance to be hands on, and be able to say, 'now I understand it, because I helped put shampoo in a bag. I did this.' To me, it's more about getting people to think about what they can do in their community. How can we give back a little bit more," he added, noting his efforts are concentrated specifically on those in need within his hometown of 91原创.
"There are other organizations that are doing good work, that are based in 91原创. But their products or whatever they are doing is going to other parts, other regions [such as Vancouver's Downtown Eastside]. But I just want to concentrate on my own community of The 91原创s. We have our own issues and a lot of our own social challenges and needs, and that's why I want to keep as much as we can focused on this area 鈥� because we have a lot of people in need."
His hope is to assemble at least 70 packages this weekend, noting that last year the team compiled and distributed about 500 kits, and he hopes to more than double that number of packages in this fiscal year, expecting that need to keep growing year over year as the demand increases.
"We can all make a difference in our community, we just have to make that choice," said Bergen, a community advocate who also lobbies governments on issues impacting people with disabilities. "We can all do something if we want to. What are you able to do?"
Donations of hygiene and care items are being accepted. Topping the list of items needed, Bergen asked for: lotion, shampoo, deodorant, body wash, shaving gel, toothpaste, tooth brushes, bar soap, bandages, new socks, sports shoes, flashlights, feminine hygiene products, and more.
Saturday's event is being held at the church, 20955 Old Yale Rd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"Come and meet some of the volunteers, donors, and supporters who make this operation tick," Bergen said. "We're encouraging health and wellness one care kit at a time."
More info on the 91原创-based efforts, people can go .