Not wanting to sit back and do nothing during these difficult times, a Toronto area woman decided to start her own winter survival kit initiative by collecting and handing out goods to help those living without a home make it through the cold weather.

On Dec 22, Vaughan resident Jessica Cuello and her family packed up three loads of 75 winter survival kits in backpacks and distributed them in Trinity Bellwoods, another encampment and shelters.

Cuello's brother brought his dog who helped them break the ice with people they hadn't met before.

"I was a little bit nervous," Cuello said, adding that everyone loved the dog.

Cuello gathered the kits after putting out a call for donations on social media through her business.

"A lot of people were willing to help," she said.

This was Cuello's first time putting together the kits.

"It was something I always wanted to do because I did mission trips growing up," said Cuello.