A Tin A Day spreads kindness through self-care packages

A MacEwan University social work student is packing kindness for people living on Edmonton's streets, one cookietin at a time.

In a project she calls A Tin A Day,Christine Wincentaylo collects empty coffee and cookie tins, packs them with self-care items such as shampoo, soap, bandages, condoms and tampons, and hands them out on the street.

The tins also contain a list of mental health resources, if the recipients want more help.

"I have a lot of people saying, 'Wow, no one has cared about me like this before,'" Wincentaylo said.

Wincentaylo started A Tin A Day two years ago and since then has given out more than 500tins.

She said the inspiration came from her own struggles growing up in a low-income household.

Wincentaylo's grandfather she calls him her "father figure" was also an inspiration for the project. He taught her to treat everyone with respect, no matter their circumstances.

One of Wincentaylo's early memories is from when she was five years old. Her grandfather approached a homeless person, talked to them in a kind way, bought them a coffee,and treated them just like anyone else.

Wincentaylo said packing the tins reminds her of her father figure, and of a happy time in her childhood.

"I think it's interesting to see, the people I've talked to on the streets are saying thank you, but I don't think they know how much they've helped me," she said.

The A Tin A Day operation happens in Wincentaylo's home. She stores the tins and supplies in her bedroom until she has enough to distribute. So far, she's financed the project through small grants.

She also got support from the Kinsmen Club of Edmonton, after some of the club's members saw her make a presentationat a Pecha Kucha night at the Garneau Theatre earlier this year.

"We're always looking for opportunities to invest in things that are community level, or that have a direct impact in the community," said Gus Michalik, president of the Kinsmen Club of Edmonton. "We heard the presentation and it was quite touching."

The club purchased $1,000 worth of toiletries to fill the tins.

The Kinsmen Club will partner with A Tin A Day again in February.

Wincentayloplans to keep the project goingas long as she can.

"I'm not stopping anytime soon."

CBC Edmonton is sharing stories of kindness and giving in our community, as part of the Make the Season Kind campaign.