THUNDER BAY — A collaboration of more than 25 local businesses and organizations has helped Grace Place reach a corporate donation total of more than $10,000 toward their $100,000 goal.
The annual Coldest Night of the Year walk in Thunder Bay will take place on Feb. 22 to raise needed funds for the operation of the Grace Place shelter.
Gary Macsemchuk, who owns and operates Grace Place in the city with his wife Melody, said there is growing support for the homeless as the tenting crisis escalates.
"Melody has been working in conjunction with the other area shelters and every night, they're doing a triage and placing people at the overflow here at Grace Place," he said.
"Definitely, with the tent cities crisis here, we are seeing growing (corporate) support and shelters working closely together."
Melody said within the shelter system, Grace Place, which she called "low barrier," is still the last resort.
"Low barrier means they can come in any which way, drunk, stoned or high and they usually do," she said. "Once all the other shelters have filled up including overflow beds, then they come to us. We have 10 overflow spaces — and they're not necessarily beds — they're spaces indoors where people can sit down, they can eat, and fall asleep in the chair."
She explained the layout for beds and spaces across Thunder Bay.
• Shelter House has 62 beds for lower-barrier clients and 10 overflow beds.
• Grace Place (Out of the Cold) has 25 beds for low-barrier clients with a restricted overflow of 10 spaces.
• The Salvation Army has 42 beds for sober males only.
• Urban Abby on Red River Road has 20 beds for low-barrier women only.
• Urban Abby Overflow shelter on Simpson Street has 20 emergency beds for low-barrier clients.
To maintain and operate shelters like Grace Place, funding and agency support are heavily relied on through the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board and fundraising initiatives like the Coldest Night of the Year Walk. Funds raised through the walk take care of the shelter's operating expenses that aren't covered by the funding that they receive, which includes lighting, heating, pinhole leaks and repairs.
"It's our cushion to be able to manage situations," Melody said.
Gary noted to reach the overall $100,000 goal, they need corporate donations and the help of 350 pledged walkers. People can sign up for the walk online by visiting cnoy.org/location/thunderbay.
"They can start a team, join a team and they can donate on the web page," he said.
There will be a two-kilometre and five-kilometre route beginning at The Summit Church on North Syndicate Avenue with a halfway rest stop at Grace Place, where there will be coffee, pizza and activities sponsored by Bay Village Coffee and Eat Local Pizza.
The route continues past city hall and back up Vickers Street to The Summit Church, where a warm chili meal will be served. The chili meal is sponsored by Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper with 150 pounds of ground meat supplied by the Regional Food Distribution Association. Registration continues until the event day and donations will be accepted throughout March.
The Chronicle-Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
