Sisters Manha and Laiba Yusuf have never shied away from doing all they can to support the Newmarket community.
The girls, 12 and 10, are currently working on a new initiative through their organization Stamp out Stigma for Mental Health.
The non-profit aims to help with homelessness, food insecurity, and combat the stigma around mental health.
This winter, they’ve turned their focus to helping improve the mental health of low-income families by providing them with necessary gear to enjoy outdoor activities throughout York Region.
“We want them to get out and enjoy the snow,” said Laiba.
The idea came together when the sisters realized that some low-income families don’t have the proper winter wear to enjoy the outdoors during the holidays and it forces them to stay inside.
“It improves their mental health to get out,” Manha said.
Along with the winter gear, they’re working on collecting hygiene items, cosmetics, toiletries and socks — items that are necessities — as part of the program.
“This is so important to us,” Laiba said. “We always want to support low-income families.”
The sisters targeted this initiative as their newest idea to make a difference because they felt there was a gap with ensuring low-income families have quality winter clothing.
They’re spreading the clothing and items they collect across those living in low-income housing in the community, as well as shelters like Inn From the Cold and Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers.
They’re hopeful the Newmarket community will see their efforts and join in to help make the project reach even more who may be without winter clothing this year.
The sisters say that everything they do is about the community and they’ve felt such support and empowerment from the residents of Newmarket that it has inspired them to launch as many difference-making initiatives as they can.
They recently started art sessions with low-income residents and have been making gingerbread houses for the holiday during those sessions. Prior to the gingerbread houses, they had decorated pumpkins for Halloween and plan to continue the program past the holidays with a Valentine’s Day theme on the horizon.
The idea came together initially to help end violence in youth by having them get involved in the community with art sessions after an incident at Stonehaven Elementary School occurred that sparked questions around children's safety.
“We don’t want things like that to happen,” said Laiba. “We believe young people have the power to change the world and we want everyone to volunteer where they can because it will help them and others in life.”
The sisters were recently recognized for their efforts in the community, too, as finalists for the Global Youth Award in the “empowering change” category and were recognized through a virtual ceremony in London, England.
In November, they also received an Ontario volunteer service award for five years of service from Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy and other dignitaries.
To learn more about Stamp out Stigma for Mental Health or to get involved and support Manha and Laiba’s initiative, visit here.
