Skyline Group of Companies is matching donations for the Emergency Response Fundraiser undertaken by The Helper Bees of the Church of the Apostles.
The fundraiser is raising $5,000 to support families impacted by the recent fire in downtown Guelph.
The Helper Bees and Your Downtown Guelph Friends will be delivering meals twice a week to 30 individuals and families displaced from their homes on March 13.
The Helper Bees launched a fundraiser on Canada Helps a week ago to raise $5,000 to provide meals to the families and individuals displaced by the Wyndham Street fire.
The families are hosted in temporary accommodations around Guelph with limited access to kitchen facilities, the organization said in a news release.
In response, the Helper Bees organized the preparation of meals at the church by Community FEWD (Food Equity With Dignity) and delivery twice a week by volunteers from Your Downtown Guelph Friends.
“The over-representation of newcomers among the survivors places this disaster in a different perspective because these are community members who are away from their friends and family and community in a time where those pillars are needed the most,“ Kate Nixon of Your Downtown Guelph Friends said.
Skyline Group of Companies became aware of the campaign through employees who volunteer with the Helper Bees and Your Downtown Guelph Friends.
Skyline offered to support the work by matching the funds raised through the campaign.
“The offer to match the donations by Skyline will allow us to double the time that we can support these families and individuals impacted by the fire,” Helper Bees coordinator John Dennis said.
“As a rental housing provider, we know first-hand the importance of having a place to call home," said R. Jason Ashdown, co-founder and chief sustainability officer at Skyline.
"When that is disrupted or taken away, it can have a significant impact on a person’s well-being.”
“We have always tried to step up and answer the call when disaster strikes, and we hope this contribution can help bring further support to the displaced individuals and families.”
The quick response to the request came about because the Church of the Apostles is where Community FEWD, the Helper Bees, and Your Downtown Guelph Friends work together to prepare food and serve the community of Guelph.
Community FEWD, which is part of the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition, uses the kitchen at the church to prepare meals for the community.
Offered on a sliding scale, Community FEWD travels to different areas of Guelph to deliver meals twice a week. They specialize in rescued food from The Seed, the Guelph Food Bank, and local businesses.
The Helper Bees are an outreach program of the Church of the Apostles working with volunteers to prepare meals to be distributed downtown on Fridays and Sundays.
You will find Your Downtown Guelph Friends at the corner of Woolwich and Wyndham streets every Friday and Sunday between 2 and 3 p.m. They distribute meals, groceries, clothing and hygiene products to all that come to the tables set up on the corner.
“Jesus commands us to love our neighbour," Rev. Naomi Miller of the Church of the Apostles said.
"These neighbours need some love and care right now, and it is such a blessing that through our relationships with Community FEWD and Your Downtown Guelph Friends we can be a part of this loving response."
Donations can be made at this link.
