‘Sad to see them come up’: Winnipeg volunteer organization walks for care and connection

Volunteers organize care packages in downtown Winnipeg on Dec. 14, 2025. (Gary Robson/CTV News Winnipeg)

A Winnipeg volunteer organization braved the feels-like -27 C temperatures to deliver care and warmth to the unsheltered and vulnerable community members.

The annual holiday walk by Urban Wagons was held Sunday afternoon, with volunteers walking through downtown Winnipeg delivering hot meals, winter clothing, care packages and social interaction.

“A lot of people have told us that the shelters are completely booked so they can’t get in,” said Lisa Morantz, director of operations for the group. “They’ve shown us the spots that they sleep on. So in this weather, it’s almost impossible for them to obtain blankets and hats and gloves to be able to get through the night.”

Several people picked up the care packages by coming up to the group, even before they started their walk. Morantz described the moment as both purposeful and sad.

“It’s purposeful in one way, but the other way we feel that, I don’t want to say government, we should be able to do better for people who are challenged by shelter.

“It’s sad in a way to see them come up, knowing that they need blankets or hats or gloves. We see the frostbite on their fingers.”

With the city’s new encampment rules, Morantz said her group has been hearing concerns.

“A lot of people have told us that they were sleeping in encampments and they were actually okay with it,” she said. “They feel more safe in the encampments as opposed to the shelters – there’s a lot of violence that goes on, and in encampments there’s a sense of community.

“They are being torn down, so we are seeing more and more folks who are grasping at straws as to where they’re going to sleep each night.”

Ryan Frick, the group’s director of social media and communications, said the group has seen people under economic duress.

“We see a lot of people that are being affected by inflation, by budgets that are really tight and that money isn’t just going as far as it used to,” Frick said.

He added jackets and men’s socks are needed in the winter, with water, shorts and shirts for summer and any type of food at any time. More information is available online.