Home Depot launches Orange Door Project fundraising campaign to combat youth homelessness in the Central Okanagan
The Home Depot Canada’s Kelowna and West Kelowna stores have partnered with BGC Okanagan to raise funds in support of local youth facing barriers and homeless youth.
Until June 25, customers can donate to the Orange Door Project at the Kelowna and West Kelowna store checkouts or online at OrangeDoorProject.ca (please select store 7032 or store 7252 so that we still receive your funds locally).
All local donations will help BGC Okanagan for programs such as Upstream Kelowna. BGC Okanagan is the local lead organization in this initiative that aims to end school disengagement and reach youth before the crisis of homelessness hits. Through early assessments and intervention with youth, BGC Okanagan believes we can not only protect young people and their families from experiencing crisis and escalating risk, but effectively turn off the tap to homelessness.
“Due to the generosity of the community and Home Depot, through the Orange Door Project, we are able to create successful outcomes for young people through Upstream Kelowna and our shelter diversion program. Funding has also assisted over 200 youth this year at the Westside Youth Centre by giving them a safe place to be supported, to have fun and receive meals and snacks at the Westside Youth Centre,” said Kristy Butterworth, BGC Okanagan Director of Youth.
Upstream Kelowna connected 100 new participants to supports through their student assessment over the past year, providing them with mentorship/guidance, mental health support, family support, academic support, recreation activities, employment support and more.
“I felt understood and listened to and supported for whatever I needed. Some of the support would range from my relationship with my mother or other peers or maybe a push towards motivation to go to school. I feel as though Upstream has greatly benefitted my mental health, the way I view the world, my respect for my culture and who I am as a person, and overall, my values to make myself a better person,” said a 15-year-old who is a participant in the Upstream Kelowna program.
Through The Orange Door Project fundraising campaign, The Home Depot Canada Foundation supports 126 organizations that are committed to preventing and ending youth homelessness across the country.
About The Home Depot Canada Foundation:
The Home Depot Canada Foundation is a Canadian registered charity committed to preventing and ending youth homelessness in Canada. Through community partnership THDCF works to remove systemic barriers youth face to foster healthy pathways for change. To create new paths for youth experiencing homelessness, The Home Depot Canada Foundation is investing $125 million by 2030.
Youth homelessness continues to be on the rise in Canada, and now more than ever youth need support. issues youth experiencing homelessness face daily are complex, and require holistic approaches and wrap-around community support. They need a safe place to live. They need access to support services that will help them create healthy pathways