NORTH BAY -- A North Bay restaurant called Gd2Go is partnering with the local Mental Health Housing and Support Services to promote a new fundraiser initiative to help the homeless in the community.
The program is called Hope for the Homeless, where all money donated will go towards people using the newly opened temporary warming centre on Main Street and also help fund future warming centres if or when they are needed.
"Hope for the homeless is an organization that creates fundraising activities that just benefits that group," said Ben Farella, Gd2Go owner.
The drive was kick-started by Mary Davis at the Nipissing Mental Health Housing and Support Services.
"The community support in the opening of the Gd2Go Warming Centre has been phenomenal. Thanks to Good2Go for their fundraising efforts, this money along with any future funds raised will be directed towards establishing a permanent location for a warming centre in the city," stated Davis.
Good2Go partnered with the owner of their former building to turn it into a temporary warming centre to keep homeless people safe during the winter nights. The facility holds over a dozen cots.
The campaign started about three weeks ago with a fundraising activity where customers were encouraged to leave donations in a jar for the current warming centre.
"We've had really great success communicating and connecting with the community and they understand at the time of year the importance of a warming shelter," said Farella.
He estimates a few thousand dollars have been donated since the launch.
"Here at Gd2Go, we're going to do something on New Year's Eve during the day… buy one get one 50 per cent off and any money that is brought in, we're going to match it," he continued.
Farella is hopeful other businesses in the city will step up and come up with ideas to help the city's vulnerable and fund future warming centres.
