This weekend, Joe Roberts will be pushing a shopping cart through Sudbury.
The former homeless youth turned entrepreneur is pushing the cart, a symbol of chronic homelessness, for The Push for Change, a 9,000-km, 517-day trek across Canada to raise awareness and funds for ending youth homelessness.
The Sudbury leg of Roberts' journey features a "Walk to the Wolves" on Jan. 15. Sudburians are invited to join him at Science North at 11:30 a.m. for a walk to the Sudbury Arena in time for the 2 p.m. Wolves game. A portion of the proceeds from that game will go toward the Push for Change Foundation.
Non-perishable food items will also be collected at the arena for a local food drive.
On Jan. 16, Roberts will deliver a speech to Sudbury's youth at the United Steelworkers Hall to educate at-risk youth on the prevention of homelessness.
High school students from Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario (CSPGNO), Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel Ontario (CSCNO), Rainbow District School Board and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will be in attendance.
In addition, United Way is organizing a fundraiser on the evening of Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. entitled "It's Chili Outside." The public is invited to gather at Memorial Park, Downtown Sudbury for a chili dinner and hot beverages offered by the Blue Door Soup Kitchen.
Roberts will be present as guest speaker and the event is free of charge.
Those seeking to learn more or to donate can do so at PushForChange.com. Half of the funds raised will go to the Upstream Project to help implement an evidence-based partnership with schools utilizing a model of early intervention for young people who are at risk of disengaging from school, becoming homeless and entering the justice system.
The other half will be distributed locally to programs helping at-risk youth right here at home.
Sudbury's Push for Change Team includes the United Way Centraide Sudbury and/et Nipissing Districts, the City of Greater Sudbury, the Greater Sudbury Police, Ontario Provincial Police, United Association, Sudbury Wolves, the Child and Family Centre, as well as the school boards listed above.
For more on Joe Roberts and the Push for Change movement, visit PushForChange.com.
