Hello Nipissing!
The following information is a letter from the organizers of The Homeless Night Challenge, taking place May 24th and 25th. We invite you to participate or donate for this cause in our community. Visit their Facebook Page for more information.
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Homeless Night Challenge Hopes to Raise $50,000 to Aid the Local Men’s Homeless Shelter
NORTH BAY – Do you have what it takes? The community is invited to sign up a team to participate in the 2019 Homeless Night Challenge on May 24, 2019 at the Northgate Shopping Centre. Teams will raise pledges and compete to win the challenge by earning points and raising awareness about homelessness in North Bay. The winning team will be announced at the wrap-up Pancake Breakfast, 8am – 10am on May 25th. The public is encouraged to participate by making a donation, volunteering, entering a team or attending the Pancake Breakfast to show your support.
Homeless Night Challenge
Date: May 24, 2019
Time: 5:00pm – 10:00am (May 25)
Location: Northgate Shopping Centre
Pancake Breakfast
Date: May 25, 2019
Time: 8:00am – 10:00am
Location: Northgate Shopping Centre
North Bay has a critical need to raise money to support our community members who have been rendered homeless and left in a dire situation. The Homeless Night Challenge is an overnight fundraising competition designed to raise awareness for men’s homelessness in North Bay and area by demonstrating barriers homeless men face. Proceeds from the event go directly to Hope Awaits Ministries to offset the operating costs for the Men’s Homeless Shelter, A Lounge and Life Skills Programs operated in North Bay, ON. Hope Awaits is commited to providing shelter, supporting and rehabilitating homeless men to get them off the street permanently!
With the support of many local businesses, churches, supporting organizations such as The Gathering Place and a large group of generous community members, we have organized an event that will significantly contribute to our need.
Some of the activities planned for the Homeless Night Challenge include team competitions and entertainment from local musicians. The event will take place in the parking lot at the Northgate Shopping Centre and will be open to the public.
About Homelessness in North Bay
Most people have a misconception about who it is that needs help. It’s often not the people you’d expect to be on the street, it’s the people who have succeeded in life and circumstances arise that they just can’t seem to makes ends meet.
Did you know?
- 30% of households are on the brink of losing everything
- 39 years old is the average life expectancy for a person living on the streets
- 20% of the homeless population are young people between the ages of 16-24
- We have 156 homeless men in our community (that we know of)
Beds available to homeless men in North Bay:
- 4 beds available at Hope Awaits (opportunity to increase the number of beds)
- 12-14 beds at the Warming Centre (open nightly all winter, include women and children)
- 19 beds available at the Crisis Centre (include women and children), in 2018 they had more than 100 additional emergency overflow days, according to the article published March 1, 2019 https://www.nugget.ca/news/local-news/north-bays-homeless-problem-getting-worse
“Homelessness could happen to anyone of us. What we know is that about 30% of households are on the verge of losing everything,” states Dave Cross, Committee Member for the Homeless Night Challenge. “If interest rates change by even 1%, a family member gets sick or someone loses a job that might mean one of these families or individuals are on the street. As a community we need to come together to support a program that makes incredible contributions towards solving this critical need. Hope Awaits is working hard towards helping get these men back up on their feet for good.”
For more information, to register a team or to donate please visit https://www.hopeawaitsministries.com
About Hope Awaits Ministries
Hope Awaits is a local charity that is committed to providing shelter, supporting and rehabilitating homeless men to get them off the street permanently and the team has been working tirelessly since opening their doors to help rehabilitate homeless men.
Hope Awaits has aimed to be more than just “a bed and a meal,” however when they are not vacant to new men who arrive, they continue to do what they can, by offering clothing, food, a shower or prayer to an individual before being sent on their way. Many of the clients staying in the home, go on to reach their goals of employment, attend or finish school and find their own place to reside. Each client is different, but the home is that of a family-type environment, who rejoice over the victories and triumphs of their clients. Past clients have exclaimed the amazement they feel over, “…how much their life can change by the presence of community in their lives.”
Media wishing to attend the event can RSVP by email to homelessnight@gmail.com A detailed schedule of the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony complete with dignitary remarks and cheque presentations will be provided upon request. Opportunities will be available first come first serve to interview dignitaries, recovered homeless men (testimonials), volunteers and participants.
Media Contact:
Dave Cross
Committee Member, Homeless Night Challenge
705-492-5894
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