Out of the Cold
Ron Crane introduced Gord McKay as an ex Rotarian, a Councillor and a retired businessman who now expends a lot of effort and time volunteering and helping in the Community. Among the many organizations he works with is 'Out of the Cold'.
Gord said thanks for the opportunity to speak to the Club and thanks to the Club for its gift of $500.00 which allowed them to purchase a dishwasher.
Out of the Cold offers those who need it warm meal, a place to sleep and friendship. Now in its 4th year it is operating from Dec. 1 to March 31 and serves about 12 to 15 people a night. This translates to 1300 meals and 1,770 bed nights offered by 217 front line volunteers taking shifts.
Originally the operation shifted, over the 7 nights of each week, between 7 parishes in 2 communities, which was confusing to volunteers and clients alike. In partnership with the OPP and the Midland Police who provide security and train the volunteers, with Wendat who helps with housing and the Hospital which does the laundry they did this last year for only $2,209.40. A real bang for the buck.
The rotating schedule caused several problems and this year Knox Presbyterian offered a permanent space which, while gratefully accepted, did not come without problems. Nicknamed 'the dungeon' it was not the most hospitable space and estimates ran to $47,000.00 to bring it up to standard.
But, a few phone calls and one very generous donor later they were able to contract with Georgian Team Design and start work.
The space is semi-circular, down one flight and has a reception desk where all clients are checked for weapons and drugs (people can be turned away). Then there's a living room with a TV, a card table and seating. There's a sleeping area for 10 mats with dividers, washrooms with a shower and a kitchenette with 2 fridges, a stove and the dishwasher. A lot of the kitchen is owed to Tom Barber.
The need is there. A survey shows there are about 2,000 people in North Simcoe who are 'marginally housed' which means that any given week if they miss a payment, fall ill or suffer other misfortune they can be evicted. This week they were trying to help a woman with an 8 year old daughter. There was no other place for her. Gord likens the program to a little lifeboat with 10 spaces floating beside a ship with 2,000 people sitting on the railing who don't know if they're going to have to jump or not.
But, now that the program is stable, Gord says they are working on the next phase which is to work with the clients. SOS and Community Link are co-ordinating efforts to try to stabilize the clients lives and to make a change in the way they live. Restore had a broken stove which Barber fixed and Carpenters installed and a family can now cook their own meals.
There is a tremendous need but Gord says it is through tremendous people like this that progress can be made. He's hoping to promote a kind of 'Random Acts of Kindness' program that will spread the privilege of living here to those less fortunate. Sharing and Caring and Rotary is at the heart of it.
Maureen asked if clientele was limited to Midland and Gord said not, that they had had visitors from Waubashene and other spots.
Steve offered his thanks to Gord for coming and for his work on this project.