Image Credit: Grouse River via The Film Factory

Today marks the launch of a campaign to keep Kelowna’s homeless warm and dry during the winter.

The Film Factory, Metro Community, and Grouse River are partnering to issue a challenge. Inspired by the impact of Colin Basran’s OneBagChallenge—an initiative designed to fill the shelves of the local food bank—a Metro Community member suggested to the Film Factory that a similar campaign could collect sleeping bags. The Film Factory's Brand Ambassador, Lauren Hjalmarson, met with Metro Pastor Laurence East, and the winter edition of this project was born.

“We were so impressed with the impact of the OneBagChallenge,” said Jeff Myers, President of the Film Factory New Media Creative House. “So when we were looking for a way to make a difference in our community, we figured that we couldn’t do better than to follow in the mayor’s footsteps."

The Winter Edition of the OneBagChallenge will harness the #PowerofFive, now bringing donations in to food banks across Canada and the United States. It will spread the word that just one sleeping bag can save a life—and that five can make a world of difference.

The challenge is built around a video produced by the Film Factory New Media Creative House. The video is being shared through the partnered organizations’ social media channels, and each one is challenging five businesses to donate a sleeping bag to Metro via Third Space. Bedding dropped off at Third Space Foundation in the Landmark 2 building will be distributed by Metro among those experiencing homelessness in Kelowna.

“Our hope is that the campaign will spread throughout the Okanagan and beyond,” said Myers. "The more people who receive sleeping bags because of the OneBagChallenge, the better!"

He noted that The Film Factory is encouraging people to challenge businesses in this endeavour because the warmest sleeping bags are not always the lowest priced. Myers believes that sharing this campaign between businesses will help to ensure the vulnerable receive winter-ready bedding.

To issue the challenge, all a person needs to do is follow these steps:

1. share the video on social media
2. hashtag #OneBagChallenge and #PowerofFive
3. tag five businesses in their post
4. encourage those they’ve tagged to do the same

Grouse River is offering a 15% discount on any one regular-priced sleeping bag to people who visit their Kelowna location to take part in this project. The discount code can be accessed via thefilmfactory.ca, and will be valid through November 15th.

News from © iNFOnews, 2016