Youth Haven’s annual Box of Hope campaign had another successful season, with the community donating $72,380 to help Barrie, Ontario, and area youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The shelter said each box costs $50, and the campaign also ensures the youth are provided with food, warm beds and counseling services throughout the year.
Lucy Gowers, executive director of Youth Haven, said the gifts under the tree mean a lot to the youth they help but it goes beyond that.
“It’s a sense of belonging that’s important to these kids as well. It’s not lost on our youth that there are people in the community who care about their well-being,” Gowers said.
“There’s no place like home for the holidays, as the song goes, but for the kids in our care, that’s not always possible, so we do what we can to make the holidays feel like sweet home.” Huh.”
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In 2022, Youth Haven provided support to approximately 600 youth in Barrie and the region.
Youth Haven serves as Simcoe County’s only emergency shelter for youth and provides emergency, transitional housing and outreach services to youth ages 16 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness or who are in need of homelessness. There is a danger of happening.
The shelter is currently raising funds to build a new home to provide services for more people.
The new home, which will also address the shelter’s need for an updated location, will house 34 youths at a time, up from 19.
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