The Sher Project was reimagined by our President, Rida Khan, after beginning nursing school. She was inspired to provide unhomed individuals with access to hygiene items, to promote health. With a $500 Neighbourhood Small Grant and a small team of dedicated volunteers, we set out to create an event that would raise awareness about homelessness, amplify lived experiences, and take action to support people facing housing insecurity. What started as an idea quickly grew into a meaningful gathering that brought nearly 80 community members together in our local library.
Planning the event required creativity and teamwork. With a limited budget, we focused on using the funds in the most impactful way: purchasing essential hygiene items such as toothbrushes, soap, wet wipes, and other personal care supplies. These would become the foundation of our “hygiene bags,” assembled by attendees as a hands-on way to contribute. Coordinating the shopping, organizing the supplies, and planning the flow of the event were challenges we tackled step by step. Each obstacle, whether it was choosing the right quantities or setting up the space, pushed us to think more collaboratively and resourcefully.
One of the most fulfilling parts of planning The Sher Project was inviting speakers whose perspectives could spark understanding and empathy. We partnered with a group of nursing students, who opened the event by sharing the health risks unhoused individuals face when hygiene resources are inaccessible. Their insight helped ground us in the realities of public health and systemic barriers.
We also welcomed a community member who had experienced homelessness firsthand and later went on to build successful businesses. Their story of resilience, entrepreneurship, and hope resonated deeply with the audience, reminding everyone that homelessness does not define a person’s future. Finally, a representative from a local homeless shelter spoke about ongoing challenges and how community involvement can create lasting change.
As participants assembled the hygiene bags, each one packed with care, it became clear that The Sher Project was more than just an event. It was a moment of connection. People who had never met before worked side by side, listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and left with a renewed understanding of how collective action can make a real difference.
What we learned was powerful. We learned that when a community comes together with compassion and purpose, even a small grant can spark meaningful change. The Sher Project started as an initiative, but it became a reminder that every person has the ability to contribute to a kinder, more supportive community.
