Youth Opportunities Unlimited puts a cap on youth homelessness
For the second year in a row,
Youth Opportunities Unlimited
(YOU) has been selected by
Raising the Roof to lead their campaign
in London. They are asking
Londoners to show their support
by purchasing a Raising the Roof
toque. The toque campaign started
in November and ends on February
29.
A part of the profits from each $10 toque goes towards Raising the Roof, but the majority goes directly to YOU. Services and programs at the Youth Action Centre help youth between ages 16 and 24, and include basic needs, meals, food bank services, a safe space, housing supports, informal counseling, community referrals and peer mentoring.
According to Anna Szczuka, Public Relations Officer at YOU, there's more to youth homelessness than what is generally perceived. "Youth homelessness exists all across our community. Whether you're living in White Oaks, Kipps Lane or Masonville, youth homelessness does exist," said Szczuka. "Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not there. It is youth living in shelters and on the streets, but it's also youth who are couch surfing and youth who don't have a place to call home."
The Youth Action Centre sees over 3,600 local youth per year, with over 33,000 visits. "So those 3,600 youth come and come back because they're getting more and more support," said Szczuka.
This year YOU is hoping to sell 800 toques, and with the support the community has shown so far, Szczuka is confident their goal will be achieved. "It's quite amazing, the amount of support that we've received, and we are very thankful for the community and how much they're reaching out to us," she said.
Orchestra London purchased 50 toques to wear during their Red Hot Weekend "Dark Side of the Moon" performances. The Grand Theatre is also showing support by setting aside 100 tickets with the purchase of a toque for a matinee showing of Ed's Garage. Szczuka said that TD Canada Trust branches in London are selling toques as well.
For Szczuka, this campaign is more than just selling hats, "It is about selling toques, but it's more about awareness … We need to help conquer youth homelessness and fund any solutions that we can because we have to understand that these youth are our next generation, so we have to help them out to succeed."
YOU will be selling toques at Fanshawe on February 1 in Forewell Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. "A lot of our placements students go to Fanshawe College and they're just as excited as we are about reaching out to Fanshawe students. And (the hats are) red, so it's a perfect colour," said Szczuka.
For more information about Youth Opportunities Unlimited, visit you.on.ca. To find out more about where to get toques, contact Melissa Hawki, Retail Sales Supervisor at YOU, at 519-432- 1112 ext. 289 or by e-mail at sales@you.on.ca.
A part of the profits from each $10 toque goes towards Raising the Roof, but the majority goes directly to YOU. Services and programs at the Youth Action Centre help youth between ages 16 and 24, and include basic needs, meals, food bank services, a safe space, housing supports, informal counseling, community referrals and peer mentoring.
According to Anna Szczuka, Public Relations Officer at YOU, there's more to youth homelessness than what is generally perceived. "Youth homelessness exists all across our community. Whether you're living in White Oaks, Kipps Lane or Masonville, youth homelessness does exist," said Szczuka. "Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not there. It is youth living in shelters and on the streets, but it's also youth who are couch surfing and youth who don't have a place to call home."
The Youth Action Centre sees over 3,600 local youth per year, with over 33,000 visits. "So those 3,600 youth come and come back because they're getting more and more support," said Szczuka.
This year YOU is hoping to sell 800 toques, and with the support the community has shown so far, Szczuka is confident their goal will be achieved. "It's quite amazing, the amount of support that we've received, and we are very thankful for the community and how much they're reaching out to us," she said.
Orchestra London purchased 50 toques to wear during their Red Hot Weekend "Dark Side of the Moon" performances. The Grand Theatre is also showing support by setting aside 100 tickets with the purchase of a toque for a matinee showing of Ed's Garage. Szczuka said that TD Canada Trust branches in London are selling toques as well.
For Szczuka, this campaign is more than just selling hats, "It is about selling toques, but it's more about awareness … We need to help conquer youth homelessness and fund any solutions that we can because we have to understand that these youth are our next generation, so we have to help them out to succeed."
YOU will be selling toques at Fanshawe on February 1 in Forewell Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. "A lot of our placements students go to Fanshawe College and they're just as excited as we are about reaching out to Fanshawe students. And (the hats are) red, so it's a perfect colour," said Szczuka.
For more information about Youth Opportunities Unlimited, visit you.on.ca. To find out more about where to get toques, contact Melissa Hawki, Retail Sales Supervisor at YOU, at 519-432- 1112 ext. 289 or by e-mail at sales@you.on.ca.
