Youth Emergency Shelter desperate for donations
Tuesday, 5. January 2010
Updated: Sun Dec. 20 2009 17:59:08
Sonia Sunger, ctvedmonton.ca
An Edmonton shelter that works to keep homeless teens off the streets says it is about severely short of its fundraising goal this year and that means teens who need help simply won’t get it.
The Youth Emergency Shelter Society (YESS) says they are already turning away six to ten kids a night and now the organization is about $750,000 short of its fundraising goal.
The organization says the shortfall will force them to make some very difficult decisions.
“Is it the kids who are just coming off the street who are at the highest risk that we would say no to, or would it be the kids we worked diligently through programs for months and are probably six months away from being self reliant and independent?” asked Sue Keating with YESS.
One of the youth who has been lucky enough to receive help from YESS says the organization offers a vital service that the community needs.
“It means a safe place to stay, it means food in your stomach, it means not having to sleep out in the cold, not worrying about anything,” said Martine, a 16-year-old who has been at the shelter for the past month.
Mayor Stephen Mandel agrees, saying Edmonton needs organization like YESS.
“We cannot have the most challenged of our society, the youngest of our society, on the street or without the kids of programs they have,” said Mandel.
Mandel went on to say that the city donated $1 million to existing charity programs this year.
“We’ve been in contact with the Youth Emergency Shelter Society and will make sure they get help,” said Mandel. “We can’t solve all their problems.”
For information on the shelter and how you might be able to help click here.
