Outreach services on Wesley St. the last two Wednesday's were visited 57 times and will be in place for some time. (submitted/Youth Advisory Council)

By Spencer Sterritt

Wesley St.

Essential supplies being handed out to vulnerable Nanaimo youth

May 22, 2020 | 1:26 PM

NANAIMO — A new initiative is helping the dozens of Nanaimo youth who don’t have somewhere safe to sleep.

Coordinators and volunteers from Literacy Central Vancouver Island, Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre and Youth Advisory Council have visited the Wesley St. area the past two Wednesday’s, handing out supplies and being a metaphorical shoulder to lean on.

Youth Advisory Council coordinator Ruby Barclay said they had planned for four visits during their first time on Wesley St.

They ended up helping 24 people the first week and 33 the second. Care packages were provided along with backpacks and sleeping bags.

“I was surprised about how easy it was to create something and engage,” Barclay told NanaimoNewsNOW. “It’s not that hard to reach people experiencing homelessness, especially when you show up in a way that’s safe for them.”

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With many youth living on the streets not having access to cellphones and traditional ways of being notified, the group instead posted fliers around Nanaimo and relied on their peer network to get the word out.

“I know there’s more than 57 young people out there in need of services to reach out to them, instead of expecting them to reach out to us.”

Those who received supplies on Wednesday night were asked specifically what message they’d like to share to the world. (submitted/Youth Advisory Council)

Delaney Gunn, youth literacy coordinator with Literacy Central Vancouver Island, said the need for youth services existed long before COVID-19 but has become especially important during the pandemic.

“Not everyone has a safe home to quarantine in. If you’re living in an unsafe foster care situation, or where you have a violent partner or parent…that can make those living situations really unsafe.”

Youth Advisory Council member Cadence Manson spent much of the two visits to Wesley St. handing out supplies and listening to any and all stories people were willing to share.

He said many return visitors last Wednesday still had the supplies given the week before, which can sometimes be difficult to keep ahold of.

“I could tell they’re really hoping this is going to be a consistent thing they can count on every week…to get the supplies they really need.”

The outreach on Wesley St. is funded by the Nanaimo Community Action Team and supported by many other organizations.

A second round of funding from the Community Action Team is expected in June.

Those involved said delivering supplies every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. is hopefully the beginning of a much larger movement to help youth throughout the area.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit