About a year ago, Joanne and Gordon Stromgren found themselves facing hard times. They were struggling to put food on the table, so they turned to Carmichael Outreach.
“Being on social services, we didn’t have money ourselves come near the end of the month, so we’d go to Carmichael’s and have a little bit of their lunch,” Joanne said.
The couple also made daily trips for coffee and cookies, and participated in weekly bingo games.
But it’s been a bumpy road for the non-profit ever since it sold its original building a couple years ago. The organization, known for providing Regina’s homeless population with much needed services, found itself in need of help.
Carmichael Outreach is currently operating out of its second temporary location after a lack of funding stalled renovations on its new building on 12th Avenue.
“We’re actually in two separate locations,” Communications, advocacy and projects officer for Carmichael Outreach, Rochelle Berenyi, said. “Our kitchen is in the Heritage neighbourhood, out of the Heritage Community Association, and our drop-in centre, our boutique, our housing program, all of those other things are out of the old Sears bargain centre building.”
Currently Berenyi said they’ve raised $150,000 of their $400,000 – $450,000 goal, and are still waiting on a couple of other potential significant contributors.
- Posters promoting ‘Steal From Loblaws Day’ are circulating. How did we get here?
- Canadian food banks are on the brink: ‘This is not a sustainable situation’
- Video shows Ontario police sharing Trudeau’s location with protester, investigation launched
- Solar eclipse eye damage: More than 160 cases reported in Ontario, Quebec
Now the Stromgren’s are on a mission to help the non-profit reach it’s goal. On Monday the couple will hit the pavement, walking and busing to various business asking for donations.
“It’s just so nice to know that there are people in the community that really want to do whatever they can to make a difference and they’re so excited to do it and it makes me so excited for them,” Berenyi said.
Currently the Stromgren’s are back on their feet and simply want to give back to the organization who gave them so much. While they say they don’t have a set goal, they’re just hoping to collect as many donations as possible.
“It makes you feel great in your heart,” Gordon said.
The couple will hit the streets 8 a.m. Monday morning starting at the 7-11 at Broad Street and 14th Avenue.
Comments