Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

Community

Fundraising efforts for new Sunrise House Youth Emergency Shelter continue

Apr 21, 2023 | 6:00 AM

Another $1.3 million still needs to be raised to pay for the new Sunrise House Youth Emergency Shelter.

It is currently under construction near the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

Capital Campaign Manager Chantale Doucette-Chalifoux says one option is for individuals or businesses to sponsor a room in the new shelter.

“Or sponsor one of the transitional housing suites or the music room. There are still a lot of different options if people are looking to get involved.”

“They would get their name on that room as well as on the donor wall.”

Doucette-Chalifoux says floor naming rights are also available.

Donations to Sunrise House can also be made through its website.

Doucette-Chalifoux adds a fundraiser called The Lock Campaign will start in the next couple months.

“Kaymor Machining is building us a big, giant metal sun. We’re going to be selling locks to community members and they can come and purchase a lock and put it on to the sun, with the slogans of lock out homelessness, lock out hunger, lock out exploitation.”

Doucette-Chalifoux says they hope this can raise $150,000 through lock purchases. The metal sun would sit at the completed shelter once it is full of locks.

There is also hope to have the 2023 edition of Big Hearts for Big Kids.

Board and Capital Campaign Team member Monique Nadkrenechny says organizers are working on a date.

“There are a lot of things. Everybody, I think, after COVID wanted to have lots of events, so there are a lot of things going on. We’re trying to fit right into that puzzle, so we’ll find a spot and we’ll definitely be having another event. That will not be going away.”

“We’ll bring back a lot of fun and some music and raise some great money. We’re looking forward to it.

The 2022 edition of Big Hearts for Big Kids raised over $450,000.