Grand Opening
by Christine Wincentaylo
About
My name is Christine. I grew up in a low-income family and struggled with my mental health, but was unable to gain access to support, due to financial barriers. I started volunteering as soon as I could drive, 16-years old precisely. I discovered my love for creating community, building relationships, and constructing positive impact in my city. One early morning at one o’clock, my ADHD brain could not go to sleep. I had an idea to create a project for social change, to help those struggling with mental health and financial barriers while helping to save the planet at the same time. I can proudly say that I have been able to be financially stable and have access to the proper tools to help me with my mental health and well-being. I know how difficult the world has been due to the pandemic, inequalities, and other barriers, so creating some much-needed change in the world is more important now than ever. I grew up giving what I had, to others- from my father-figure passing away and having a close cousin die from an overdose. I realized there are so many other people who are struggling and don’t have the tools or opportunities to ask for help or even survive and with that, I created "A Tin A Day'' (ATAD).
A Tin A Day creates social change within homeless populations in Edmonton and the surrounding areas, by providing self-care tins to individuals. These tins include essentials all compacted in a container. These tins are donated; otherwise, they would have ended up in the landfill. Mental health plays an essential role in what A Tin A Day supports. Additionally, a QR code inside the tin lids directs individuals to mental health resources to the "A Tin A Day" website. The QR code is accessible for individuals with any technology that can scan a QR code. Learning new and creative ways to give access to mental health resources & support for all Edmontonians.