The generosity of Greater Sudbury residents, businesses and educational institutions has eliminated the Elgin Street Mission's $25,000 deficit.
“We were $25,000 short in our budget in November. During the Christmas season a lot of people heard about our plight,” Pastor Rene Soulliere, director of the Elgin Street Mission, said.
Soulliere said the shortfall was caused by a drop in grants from funding agencies. Services such as meals to the homeless or staffing during the night shift could have been cut, Soulliere said.
“The result would have been rough for everyone - staff and clients.”
“We met our budget needs better than we thought. Some gave $200 to $300 each. One lady gave us a cheque for $3,000. She said she felt it in her heart that she had to do something. That really helped,” Soulliere noted.
Another big boost came from the Rotary Club of Sudbury Sunrisers. Four individual Rotarians, Don Garrioch, Jeff Sutton, Louise Bergeron and Cathy Nadjiwon, called the Four Elves, contacted a number of businesses for support. Twelve businesses and organizations came through with a minimum of $500 each and a pledge for staff to volunteer at the Mission during its busiest period near Christmas.
Corporations that participated included KPMG, Collège Boréal, Cambrian College, Sudbury Vision Centre, First Nickel Mine, LOPES Mechanical, Sudbury Credit Union, Sun Life Financial, Lougheed Funeral Homes, Benefit Partners, Mauro Zuliani Re/Max Sudbury and Northridge Savings and Credit Union. A cheque for $6,050 was presented to Soulliere by representatives from the corporations.
Bergeron said people participating were so moved they want to continue to volunteer at various times in 2010.
“Some said they had never experienced this before, helping out at the Mission. This Christmas event by our team will happen again next year.”
Cathy Nadjiwon said the experience of helping out at the dinners was inspiring. She and others from the dozen companies involved where featured in a slide show at the breakfast session.
“It has been a privilege to help out," Nadjiwon said. "You just don't feed the homeless. You dish out love to them too. This was special to us all."
Soulliere said he appreciated the support.
“Without this community the Elgin Street Mission could not function.”
He said the new plans for agency were to be more proactive.
“We want to bring our client numbers down. We want to do more preventive work,” he added.
The Mission is working with local schools to promote drug and alcohol awareness.
“People might be surprised to know that some our clients are from well off families," Soulliere said. "The individuals just can't cope because of drug and alcohol problems. They cannot go home. Their parents cannot handle them and do not know what to do with them. If we can reach youth early enough in their schools and tell them what alcohol and drugs can do to them, we can prevent them from ending up at the Elgin Street Mission."
For more information about Rotary Club of Sudbury Sunrisers, visit www.rotarysunrisers.com.
