There Is A Lesson To Be Learned Here

I believe people would be amazed at the number of people involved in helping the homeless on a one to one basis and the Pires are to be commended not only for their gesture but for also teaching their children an important lesson....as individuals we have to accept some responsibility for our family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc. and we have to step up to the plate when they need help. We have to stop thinking that the other guy or the government is going to look out for the needy. The Pires made sacrifices for others.....these three assholes could have learned something from the Pires.

Spreading Christmas warmth

Family gives clothing to homeless

By SANDY NAIMAN, TORONTO SUN

John Chesson, left, who lives on the street, receives a coat from Sandi Pires. The Pires' family gave out all sorts of winter gear. (ERNEST DOROSZUK/SUN)

Sandi Pires and her family left all their Christmas presents quietly wrapped under their tree in Oakville yesterday afternoon and went searching for Toronto's homeless people.

For three weeks, she, her two children, her mother and stepfather worked tirelessly collecting down-filled jackets and coats, sweaters, mitts, scarves, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, boots and loose change -- $63 in all -- which they were anxious to give away to those most needy.

Pires, 40, in her sedan and her husband, Ruis, 36, in his truck, both loaded-up with this clothing, parked near Sherbourne and Queen Sts. at 3 p.m. where they spotted a few men trying to keep warm.

The instant they started handing out little plastic zip-lock bags filled with $3 worth of change for a cup of coffee, and cookies, then opening their suitcases and pulling out all the warm weather gear, they were swarmed by about 20 others.

Pires recalled struggling as a single mother after her divorce and now routinely brings her children to Toronto "to teach them about how we are so fortunate," she said. "We've always given their toys to Goodwill, but this year, we wanted to do something special for the homeless."

Yesterday was an eye-opener for all of them.

"It makes me wonder how they survive because I always know I have a house to go home to, but they have no home and sit outside with no socks and it's so cold," Pires' eldest child, Michael Whitwell, 12, said, watching men taking the coats and blankets.

Amanda, 11, whose eyes widened as she watched the whole scene, summed it up in one word, "sad."

"These people belong in heaven," Mike Pickering, who is spending his first Christmas on the street, said quietly.

Michael Grant, 36, a software programmer and salesman laid-off in 2004 when his job was outsourced to India, clutched a big, heavy-knit blue and white sweater and added, "I am very thankful for what they've done."

Ruis grew up working in the area and said, "I don't think I've ever felt this good. We may not have much, but there are always others with less."