After losing her daughter to addiction, a local mom is making sure others facing the disease know that they are not alone.

Shelly Taillieu lost her daughter, Destiny in November of 2018 after overdosing, only one month away from her bed at a rehabilitation centre opening up.

Now part of Overdose Awareness Manitoba, a group of locals who have lost a close loved one to addiction, Taillieu is trying to share bundles of happiness with members of the homeless community in Winnipeg.

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Shelly (left) and her daugher Destiny (right) (Shelly Taillieu/Supplied)
Shelly (left) and her daughter Destiny (right) (Shelly Taillieu/Supplied)A group of 32 people from Overdose Awareness Manitoba will be aiding Taillieu as she fills drawstring bags with supplies such as deodorant and toothbrushes, and treats for vulnerable members of the community. The group is hoping people will be willing to donate dignifying items to their cause.

Taillieu believes showing a simple act of kindness will encourage those in need.

"By showing (people) just a little bit of kindness shows then that someone cares."

Taillieu shares that if her daughter were still alive, she would have been proud to receive a bag like the one the ones Overdose Awareness Manitoba are making.

The bags, set to be packaged on July 23, the birthday of Taillieu's daughter, will be distributed with Bear Clan Patrol on July 27 for International Kindness Project Day. 

"Why I, personally, am doing this is because I am trying to turn devastation into something good ni honour of my daughter. Also, I do it because the people that are down there, the homeless, they are such a stigmatized group that sometimes they do not get any kindness."

Taillieu will be joining the walk, offering Narcan kits and training along the way.

"I will hopefully be walking wit the Bear Clan that night with a kit, and if any of the people along there, if they do drugs, I will be walking and they can get Narcan traying and a kit," she says. "I will be training them at the spot where they are."

Taillieu, who is also a nurse, says that the training and kits are free. The free kits from the province come with four vials and are injection, but she is advocating for a nasal version to become free as well.

"I have given (the injections) in tight situations because I am a nurse, but (Rob) said that when he tried to give it, he wasted half of it because he was shaking so much trying to draw it up. He was panicking because my daughter was dying in front of him."

Taillieu strongly believes in Narcan training and is offering to train anyone wishing to learn. She says it "really does save lives."