The campaign to build a new shelter in Orillia is getting a boost from some of the area’s young citizens.
The Youth Hope Ambassadors group includes students from Orillia’s elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools, and the goal is to raise $50,000 for the Building Hope campaign.
After seeing a presentation from Building Hope officials at Orillia Secondary School (OSS), student council adviser Katie Prentice approached the Lighthouse Soup Kitchen and Shelter with the idea: If the students raised $50,000, the new shelter’s youth room would be named in honour of Youth Hope Ambassadors.
“There’s lots of excitement,” Prentice said. “We really wanted to get that name on the youth room.”
Students are selling bracelets, or “hope awareness bands,” for $5 each. If they can sell all of them, $20,000 will be raised for Building Hope.
OSS, the lead school for Youth Hope Ambassadors, raised $5,000 for the cause during a semiformal. A second, similar event is being planned.
For Ella Black, getting involved with the group was an easy decision.
“I know people who have been close to homelessness,” said the 17-year-old OSS student. “Places like (Building Hope) need to exist and we need to support it any way we can.”
Abigail Austin, 18, also an OSS student, has had fellow students confide in her about their experiences with homelessness.
“We, as a community, need to band together to ensure people are getting the help they need. Hopefully, we can spark change,” she said, noting homelessness is more complex than the image many have of people sleeping on the streets. “As long as people have the blinders on, things won’t change.”
“You don’t know these people and their stories,” Black added.
When Ethan Odlozinski heard about Youth Hope Ambassadors, he was “excited to get involved.”
“I’ve known some people who have experienced homelessness. Sometimes you see their family and you just don’t expect it. It changes the way you see homelessness,” said the 17-year-old OSS student.
Youth Hope Ambassadors isn’t his first time getting involved with the cause. He has volunteered at the Lighthouse and helped organize his school’s Coldest Day of the Year event last year in support of the shelter. He’s doing that again this year, and all of the money raised will go toward the group’s $50,000 goal.
It’s important for youth to step up and help, Odlozinski said.
“Seeing youth get involved pushes change. It shows we’re not all just wrapped up in our social media,” he said. “This is an incredible cause that will help our community for years to come. It might help someone who is close to you.”
Being part of Youth Hope Ambassadors has been an eye-opening experience for Maddie Sharpe, 17. She is part of a team of students at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School that will be going on a mission trip to Kenya in May. Some of the money raised for the trip will go toward the Youth Hope Ambassadors fundraising goal.
“I’m really glad that I did join because I didn’t know homelessness was an issue in Orillia,” she said. “Now I’m aware and I want to make other people aware.”
Lynn Thomas, development co-ordinator with the Lighthouse, is thrilled to have youth take on such an important role with Building Hope.
“We want to be able to reach the next generation of volunteers, donors, social workers — the future of the Lighthouse,” she said.
Youth Hope Ambassadors is about raising not only money, but awareness among their peers.
“Prevention at the youth level is very important,” Thomas said. “There are youth every day at the Lighthouse. It’s something that affects all ages.”
There are a few ways people can help Youth Hope Ambassadors reach its goal. The fundraising bracelets will be available for purchase during Coldest Night of the Year on Feb. 22 at Twin Lakes Secondary School. They will also be sold during the Simcoe Spring Home and Cottage Show, taking place April 17 to 19 at the Barnfield Point Recreation Centre.
Anyone interested in making a financial donation to the Youth Hope Ambassadors initiative can email Prentice at [email protected].
To learn more about the Building Hope campaign, click here.
