Dozens of people received chilli, hot chocolate, blankets and warm winter clothing at the Chili Blanket event on Saturday.
The Northern Women's Forum hosted the 12th annual event at Wilson Square in front of the Prince George Courthouse. Community members donated blankets, socks, gloves, coats and other warm clothing to people in need.
Organizer Jan Mastromatteo said the forum first organized the event as a reaction to government cuts to social services, including women's shelters.
"This event started as a reaction to what was then the incoming Liberal government in 2002. This event has always been focused on poverty reduction and regressive social policies," she said. "We thought this would be temporary, but it's not. The news, it's still not good - so we're still here."
Mastromatteo said she hopes the event makes a difference for people living in poverty or on the street, but also send a message to lawmakers that action is needed to reduce poverty.
"Today we invite you to stand up for the requirements of all Canadians: food, shelter, clothing... right to an affordable education," Mastromatteo said. "There are democratic solutions. We're here to say that poverty reduction strategies cost less to society..."
As of 2012, the most recent statistics available, 20.6 of B.C. children are living in poverty, she said.
"An estimated 300,000 Canadians are homeless," Mastromatteo added.
The event also marked the 25th anniversary of Marc Lepine's shooting rampage at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. Lepine killed 14 women and wounded 13 others - ranting about how feminists had ruined his life - before killing himself.
UNBC professor and Northern Women's Forum member Dawn Hemmingway said 25 years later, the provincial and federal governments still aren't doing enough to prevent violence against women -particularly aboriginal women.
"Why is it so hard for this government to enact any of the recommendations from the conference held here so many years ago on the Highway of Tears?" Hemmingway said. "We have agencies and communities in B.C. trying to do things. There are things happening. Change starts with us."
