On Jan. 15 and 16, a former homeless youth and current entrepreneur, Joe Roberts will be pushing a shopping cart, (a symbol of chronic homelessness) through Sudbury.
The Push for Change is a 9,000 km, 517 day trek across Canada to raise awareness and funds for ending youth homelessness.
The Push for Change Sudbury Team has decided to welcome Roberts to town by organizing a "Walk to the Wolves."
The public is invited to join Roberts for a walk from Science North to the Sudbury Arena at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15. This walk will be followed by a Wolves game at 2 p.m. with part of the proceeds going to the Push For Change Foundation.
The public is also invited to bring non perishable food items to the Sudbury arena for a local food drive.
Following this event, on Monday Jan. 16 , Roberts will deliver a speech to Sudbury's youth at the United Steelworkers Hall in order to educate at risk youth on the prevention of homelessness.
Highschool students from le Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario (CSPGNO) , le Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel Ontario (CSCNO), Rainbow Districts 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.
Joe Roberts will be present as guest speaker. This event is free of charge.
Those seeking to learn more or to donate can do so at www.pushforchange.com. Funds raised by the Push for Change Foundation 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 50 per cent of the money raised will be locally distributed 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 including Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario, Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario, Rainbow District and the Sudbury Catholic school board.
For more on Joe Roberts and the Push for Change movement, visit www.thepushforchange.com.
