THUNDER BAY — Have you ever wanted to release your stress by smashing up a car?
Starting on Saturday, Bash Bays is letting the public swing for a cause, $5 per swing, every day until March 8, in support of Shelter House.
“Champagne Thomson (from Shelter House) got a hold of my website before I even had commercial space. She was really eager to work with the business idea and we came up with this smash the stigma event, working together,” said Jeremy Moore, the owner and founder of Bash Bays.
Moore said he was fortunate to find commercial space and have a car donated.
“Champagne had some really awesome markers and very vibrant colours, and they wrote on the car everything that people that use the facilities face. Those are the stigmas," said Moore.
“At the end of the day, they're human beings and they're down on their luck and they face such negativity. That that's why we're here. Let's smash it and visualize it and try and get rid of it.”
Moore said he wants to give back to the community.
“I want my business to be a leader, a huge community partner, more specifically towards mental health," said Moore.
"I'm willing to help anybody and as long as we cover our costs here, I’m more than willing to funnel as much as we can. Whatever organization we can, but predominantly, I'd like to lean towards mental health because there's such a deficit with regards to mental health care and not just locally but across our country."
Anyone attending just needs to bring a monetary donation to smash the stigma, Moore added.
“Mental health is such a big deal. It’s underfunded, everybody struggles. Our message is it's okay to not be okay. Talk to somebody," said Moore.
"We're just simply another tool in the toolbox, we're not a place where it's going to solve your problems, but when times are tough and you just need to break something, that's what we're here for.”
Bash Bays has an Instagram, Facebook and website with more information.