Parker Christensen holding a blanket-in-progress he plans to donate. (Ty Raymond, CMRU.ca)
It’s a cold winter evening in Calgary, Alberta. You curl up in a blanket to ward off the cold, and take a sip of hot tea from your thermos. It scalds your tongue, but you’re happy to feel its warmth. You are not at home. You are finding a place to spend the night in Calgary’s downtown core.
This is a reality that hundreds of people face every year. The Calgary Homeless Foundation estimates that on any given day, 1,935 people are experiencing homelessness in Calgary. Because of current economic conditions, that number today may be much higher.
But there are some who strive to make the lives of those experiencing homelessness a little bit better.
Parker Christensen is a student at the University of Calgary. He works to provide for those in need, but not through traditional methods. For the past five years, Parker has been spending his free time creating homemade blankets and clothing for donation.
He believes that it is natural for people to help each other in moments of need. “I don’t think that donation is a rare thing,” Parker said. “I don’t think that kindness in general is a rare thing. I think it’s the most normal thing there is.”
I had the opportunity to sit down with Parker to talk about his motivation to donate.
An Interview with Parker Christensen
Every day, emergency shelters like the Calgary Drop-In Centre work to provide valuable goods and necessities to low-income individuals. It seems that every year their services are needed more than ever before.
At the Calgary Drop-In Centre in 2020 there were:
- 4,853 people who accessed the Free Goods Program.
- 5,305 visits to their Clothing Room.
- 72,625 items distributed by their Free Goods Program.
In 2021 there were:
- 7,191 people who accessed the Free Goods Program.
- 15,392 visits to their Clothing Room.
- 191,091 items distributed by their Free Goods Program.
As the demand for essential goods increases, so does the empathy of ordinary Calgarians. To begin my own process of donation, I decided to make a version of a blanket that Parker Christensen might make.
Here is the video I referenced while making the blanket.
Author’s Reflection
Sitting down with Parker opened my eyes to the potential that every person has to spread kindness in their communities. He was open and honest when answering my questions, and he shows genuine empathy for everyone he meets. As someone who finds it difficult to make time for anything outside of school and work, I am inspired by his ability to commit charitable acts with what little spare time he has.
Parker plans to create a YouTube channel teaching viewers how to sew and crochet various garments. If his channel begins generating money, he says he will donate all proceeds to select shelters and organizations in the city. I would encourage everyone to stay tuned for his first video.
There is one quote from Parker that especially resonates with me. “Everyone has something unique that they can contribute to their community. It doesn’t have to be some big money donation… It’s the little things that add up.” I hope that by viewing this story, people realize that through many small but significant acts of kindness, they can make a huge difference.
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