The Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) is working with the Royal Canadian Legion and the Regina Stitchery Guild for a second year to send Saskatchewan veterans Support on the Home Front Care Kits.
The PCC and its partners are offering some Christmas cheer and plenty of gratitude to veterans living in Saskatchewan while showing that good things do come in small packages, a news release explained. The brightly-coloured boxes will include a handcrafted item from a member of the Regina Stitchery Guild.
Provincial military liaison Greg Lawrence — the MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow — enclosed a letter of support to the veterans and their families.
“The kit comes from a tradition that was popular during the First and Second World Wars,” Lawrence said. “Stitchery, knitting, goodies and letters were sent to the soldiers on the front lines while serving away from home, to raise their spirits. By providing care kits to veterans, we continue to recognize the sacrifice and service of our Canadian Forces.”
Traditional care packages often included items such as medical supplies, canned goods and baking. The PCC is following that tradition by adding shortbread cookies, candies, chocolates and a deck of playing cards to this year’s care kits.
The Royal Canadian Legion, Saskatchewan Command (RCLSC), has added Legion facemasks and Lest We Forget wrist bands to the kits.
“We welcomed this initiative with open arms last year and will gladly distribute the care packages again this year,” RCLSC executive director Chad Wagner said. “The packages will go to veterans in the province from diverse backgrounds who may have served in Afghanistan, Korea or even the Second World War.”
Also, this year the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Regina Branch has provided information about resources and contacts relating to mental health issues to the care packages.
“It is an honour to be asked, and we are thrilled to be able to show appreciation for the men and women who have done so much for each of us,” Shannon Patton, CMHA Regina Branch director of community engagement, said. “We also want to help get the word out of the importance of caring for our mental health.”
For more information, visit www.sasklegion.ca, www.reginastitcheryguild.ca, www.cmharegina.com, or www.saskatchewan.ca.
