A group of volunteers - including a Hollywood actor - collected about 5,000 blankets and other warm items this past weekend along the Canada Line in Richmond and Vancouver.
Kimble Jemison, known for his roles in Bowfinger and Star Trek: Voyager, volunteered alongside Greg Ould, co-founder of Blanket BC Society, to collect and donate blankets and warm clothing during the annual Drive on the Line blanket drive.
Ould told the Richmond News it was great to see his friend fly in from Los Angeles for a great cause.
“(Jemison) loves Vancouver and always wants to help when he can,” he said.
In addition to blankets, the volunteers took in monetary donations - the coins are still being counted, Ould said.
Following the drive, Ould and his team handed out thousands of blankets to shelters in Vancouver as well as to the Salvation Army Shelter and Turning Point in Richmond.
“Many of the frontline staff at the shelters were shocked with the amount of blankets, jackets and sock donations,” said Ould.
Many shelters were out of blankets and in desperate need, saying it was “perfect timing” for the donations, he added.
“Blanket drives have an immediate effect on those who need to stay warm because they get donated straight to shelters after the drive.”
Ould told the News the drive has encountered challenges, including a lack of volunteers, but he is grateful to those who were able to help out as they are the ones ensuring people stay warm.
One volunteer in particular, Fumika, was indispensable in her efforts to coordinate and schedule volunteers for the event, Ould said.
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