Bev Carhart is seen during the monthly euchre tournaments held at the I.O.O.F. hall in Williamsburg as fundraisers for Help our Homeless. Thompson Goddard Photo

WILLIAMSBURG – Help our Homeless is an organization which seeks to support those experiencing housing insecurity by providing a backpack full of essential items since the fall of 2007.

Beth Carhart mentioned she had noticed there was a lot of people needing assistance in the community.  While discerning how she could help people, a speaker at a church service spoke on the need in the community, and shortly thereafter “Help our Homeless” was organized.

Carhart and her best friend Judy Vilon teamed up to start a charity for those in need. Since then, they have been working toward this mission alongside Beth’s partner Tom, a couple from Ottawa, and the staff at Nunniyer Business, which Beth owns and operates.

“It’s amazing!” exclaimed Carhart when asked to describe the response for assistance from the community.  She mentioned how there are donations received from several communities throughout Eastern Ontario. These include two or three truckloads of donations from the couple in Ottawa who helped begin the organization.  Donated items are stored for the packing of backpacks in December, or if there is a great need they are distributed shortly after received.

She explained volunteers sort through the donations, organize them and then on the first Saturday in December gather at the I.O.O.F. hall in Williamsburg to pack the backpacks for distribution.  Carhart noted that in 2025 the number of backpacks provided to area organizations was 400, an increase of 100 which were provided to organizations in Cornwall for distribution.

She wished to thank the many volunteers who donate their time and skills to help others and to the people who make donations to “Help our Homeless”.

She mentioned the backpacks are distributed to local organizations such as Community Food Share serving Dundas County; Maison Naomi’s House in Winchester; J.W. MacIntosh Community Support Services in Williamsburg as well as organizations in Cornwall and Ottawa.  Included in the backpack are a blanket, rain poncho, socks, toiletry items, snack food, can opener and winter clothing items such as mitts, scarves and hats.

The items are either purchased from money raised during events such as euchre tournaments, held the second Saturday of each month in the I.O.O.F. hall in Williamsburg, with money or items donated by people throughout the year.

Looking ahead, the organization is investigation setting up tables or booths at community event, which will need volunteers to staff it.  Carhart mentioned an item they are looking for at this time are decks of cards to put in the backpack which will provide some entertainment for those receiving it.

For those wishing to help out the organization, Carhart suggested there are several ways in which assistance can be given.  These include attending the fundraisers, make a cash donation, a donation of needed items or by assisting the preparation and filling of the backpacks in December.

There is more information available on their website, located at www.helpourhomeless.ca and their Facebook page. Carhart suggests in the case of the Facebook page to contact her Facebook page for a link as there are several organizations with a similar name.

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