A nine-year-old Winnipeg girl brought a simple message of love to Bay Street's captains of business Thursday as she pursued her quest to help the homeless – a personal campaign that has already raised $500,000 in donations.

Hannah Taylor was the featured speaker at the Empire Club, and her inspirational speech was enough to move some people to tears.

Hannah knew nothing about the homeless when she and her mother saw a man eating out of a garbage can on a cold winter day four years ago.

Hannah Taylor
Hannah Taylor

"I felt very, very sad," Hannah said in an interview later on CBC Newsworld. "I didn't know there were homeless people, because I was only five years old. I asked my mom why he was doing that, and she said because he was homeless."

Hannah turned that experience first into a home and classroom project, teaching her three siblings and her schoolmates about the most underprivileged people in their community.

Then she started collecting spare coins in old baby-food jars, gaily painted red and black like good-luck ladybugs.

Those jars, to "make change" for the homeless, were the start of the Ladybug Foundation, which raises money for charities that help homeless people.

"I know some people are afraid of homeless people," Hannah told the Empire Club, voicing the thoughts that drive her. "But they are great people, wrapped in old clothes with sad hearts. Don't be afraid of them. Just care for them and be kind to them."

She talked about "my homeless people," and one friend named Rick, who "goes for food and love" to a shelter in Winnipeg.

"He is a beautiful person," she said, "and when I met him he cried. I asked him why he was crying, and he said because I was hugging him and looking at him and talking to him. He said they were happy tears.

"Now when I see him he doesn't do that so much.

"I have a picture of us together. He wore his best shirt the day they took our picture. He is just like you and me. He just needs someone to care about him. I told him I care about him, and I always will."

Donations of food, clothing and money are good ways to help the homeless, Hannah said. "But mostly what you can do is be nice to them.

"If they're cold, share your mitts. If they're sad, say hi to them and give them a hug. If they're hungry, lend them a sandwich. And just love them like family. They need that most of all."