Today, I volunteered for the Action Terroriste Socialement Acceptable (ATSA). Translated in English, it means Terrorist Action Socially Acceptable. I was assigned to the clothing distribution table and loved the experience.

We have so many prejudices against homeless people. Today, as I was distributed clothes to the needy, I thought them quit nice. They seem just so happy to be able to get some warm clothes before the snow fall.

ATSA have organised the State of Emergency which take place for 5 days, with shelters, food distribution, care and artistic shows 24/24 for 5 days.

It aims at bringing awareness to the local.

I got to talk to a few people and it had been a nice chat. One of them came to my friend and I and talked about how people keeps looking down on them and shouldn't. The news talk about their miseries, labelled them "itinerant" and he didn't like that. He told us that he was one, but got out of it and we should talk about those who succeed in getting out of the streets.

I also got the chance to talk to a guy named Philippe. He has a degree in literature, but decided that he was going to be a street worker instead, dealing with kids in the streets. It was so much more valuable. He's been doing that for two years now and got some CEGEP students in social work to volunteer some of their time for the State of Emergency. He said that many students asked him how they should be dressed for the volunteer work, if they should be dressed "crappily"... Not all the people in the street looks awkward!

I remember many people were "picky" on the clothes we gave them, and one said, "it's not because we live in the streets that we can wear anything". They do care about their image and the way they look.

It's been a very gratifying experience. I felt that they were glad to get some new clothes and I must admit, the clothes we receive were really nice. Although they were second hand, I am pleasantly surprise that the clothing were quit modern, adapted to everyone.

For more information:

http://www.atsa.qc.ca/projs/eu09/uk/motatsa.html