Kora-lea Vidal, once a running back for Canada香蕉视频直播檚 silver-medal-winning national football team, says she never thought she香蕉视频直播檇 escape domestic violence and become homeless.

Vidal, 36, often posts videos on TikTok, where she香蕉视频直播檚 amassed nearly 55,000 followers. She covers tough content but also strives to 香蕉视频直播渟how there香蕉视频直播檚 a beauty in the struggle.香蕉视频直播�

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She says her troubles help fuel her mission to end world hunger, starting in some rough areas of downtown Edmonton. In 2017, she started a humanitarian movement called Live Lifted dedicated to meeting that goal.

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Vidal was born in Prince Rupert, B.C., known as the 香蕉视频直播淐ity of Rainbows香蕉视频直播� on the northern West Coast. Vidal says she grew up a tough mountain girl who played rugby, and that she was raised by her dad, who died when she was seven.

She incorporated rainbow designs and colours into the branding of her social media and organization because they represent a 香蕉视频直播減rayer for humanity香蕉视频直播� in the Bible, she says.

Vidal had a son when she was 25, but would continue to play football and breastfeed him at halftime. She retired from the game in order to focus putting her son through sports as he got older.

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She says she wound up in a toxic relationship and stumbled upon the drug scene, then began struggling with addiction for five years.

Today she frequents the streets, but in a different way. She distributes donations and interviews people who have no choice but to call sidewalks, alleys, parking lots and parks home.

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Since beginning her work seven years ago, Vidal says she香蕉视频直播檚 grown alarmed with how many more homeless people are in Edmonton today.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really given me a change in perspective, it香蕉视频直播檚 opened my eyes, and it香蕉视频直播檚 opened my heart,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚 actually stumbled into homelessness myself.香蕉视频直播�

Vidal says over the past few weeks she香蕉视频直播檚 been without a home, and that this has been her reality 香蕉视频直播渙ff and on香蕉视频直播� for over a year now. She says the streets can often be violent.

香蕉视频直播淎 lot of people are so desperate that they will actually steal from other homeless people.香蕉视频直播�

She said not all are like that, but there are 香蕉视频直播渂ad apples.香蕉视频直播�

Vidal says there were times she had to stay in a tent, and couldn香蕉视频直播檛 sleep because it was too cold.

She says fear of encampment fires didn香蕉视频直播檛 prevent her, or the people she香蕉视频直播檚 come across, from sheltering in tents.

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Vidal says there are many ways someone can end up homeless.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I go out to do my outreach, I don香蕉视频直播檛 just hand out food and clothing and just part ways, I make an effort to get to know the people that I香蕉视频直播檓 serving.香蕉视频直播�

Vidal published a TikTok video in 2021 that got more than two million views after she came across a man sitting on a mattress behind a dumpster in an Edmonton parking lot during a frigid February night.

Questioning how he would survive, Vidal gave the stranger a winter jacket, pillow and a blanket, while her son recorded from the warmth and safety of their car.

香蕉视频直播淚 load up my vehicle with all sort of donations, and some of the donations you don香蕉视频直播檛 think someone will even want. But I tell you, every last little bit goes, and there are still people hungry and needing.香蕉视频直播�

Vidal says she has dipped into her own pocket to get people warm clothes.

香蕉视频直播淧eople are getting frostbite left, right and centre.香蕉视频直播�

Vidal says there香蕉视频直播檚 still so much stigma around homelessness and addiction, but more people are needed to help.

香蕉视频直播淎 lot of people take action around the holiday season, but this is 香蕉视频直播榬ound-the-clock, yearlong work.

香蕉视频直播淓very day is a struggle out here.香蕉视频直播�