What was meant to be a four-week venture turned into 15 weeks, and the organizers of Tomorrow’s Hope are wrapping up the Homeless of Champions store on Sept. 5.
Bob Johnston said thousands of articles of clothing and hundreds of pairs of shoes have been handed out over the 15 weeks the Homeless of Champions store was open at Sudbury Arena.
Johnston said the purpose behind the “store” of sorts, was to give homeless people a chance to go shopping, even though everything is free, and to experience what it’s like to pick out their own clothes. The idea is to let homeless people champion their own health and wellbeing, he said, and to give them the confidence to make positive changes.
There was a definite need for it, too. On their busiest days, volunteers would see about 180 in the store throughout the three hours it was open. Fortunately, they received plenty of community support, including the Sudbury Food Bank and BioPed Footcare and Orthotics, which provided 200 pairs of shoes and socks to hand out to the homeless.
“We have had great volunteers who committed to the four weeks, and the majority of them are still there 15 weeks later,” Johnston said.
On the last day, volunteers will be handing out school supplies for those in need.
Now it’s time to move on to other pursuits, Johnston said. Tomorrow’s Hope also operates a breakfast program and afternoon shelter at Grace Family Church.
Johnston and his partner, Carrie Wasylyk, will be ramping up their mission to keep the homeless safe and fed. They have already been going throughout the city handing out snacks and water, and helping the homeless deal with their mental health and addictions.
“We’ve built up a relationship with the people on the street, where we know 99 out of every 100 people,” Johnston said. “During hot weather, we watch for overdoses, as well as hand out water and snacks.”
