Sudbury Outreach Support looking for a new home

A volunteer group that has been helping clothe and provide supplies – like hygiene products and snacks – to the vulnerable in Greater Sudbury is looking for a new location. Sudbury Outreach Support (SOS) has been operating out of the market area in the city’s downtown core this winter but with market vendors moving back in mid-May it needs a new space.

The volunteer group told CTV News about 150 people visit every Sunday to get supplies and it's not just people living on the streets.

"It's heartbreaking to see seniors you know who need to take that can of spaghetti sauce because they don't have enough food for the week,” said Denise Sandul, a volunteer with SOS.

“So it's not just our homeless we have other people as well they are mostly people from the downtown core though."

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Aline Pitcher has been volunteering with SOS for the past three years to help the vulnerable population. She said some people who visit just want someone to talk to.

"A lot of them they come over here because they can't talk to their family," said Pitcher.

“Some are drug addicts and they have problems, mental health problems and they come especially to me they will come just to talk. I look them in the eyes and they want to tell me their story .”

The group operates from the market location on Elgin Street but will lose the space soon when the Sudbury Market moves back for the summer season.

City councillor Michael Vagnini has been volunteering with the group picking up donations and is currently helping them look for a new location.

"We like this location. Maybe we move down a little bit further as long as we have some storage that we can utilize,” said Vagnini.

“The old train station is a place where we could probably do that."

Volunteers with SOS said they need more volunteers and are always looking for donations especially shoes and hygiene products right now.

More information on SOS can be found on their Facebook page.