The nights are chilling as each day advances towards winter. For the homeless and disenfranchised in the city, it is more than uncomfortable, it could be lethal. For the third year in a row, a special overnight drop-in centre will offer a warm room, a little food, and a bit of recreation for those with no place else to go.
The overnight drop-in centre is operated by the Prince George Metis Community Association (PGMCA), with the help of other poverty support agencies in the city. Main organizers gathered on Friday to draw the winners of their annual fundraiser raffle and announce the date this year's centre will open: Nov. 2.
"We have enough funding to go for 16 from the opening date," said Patrick Pocha, acting-president of the PGMCA and co-founder of the centre. "We have heard from a department of the federal government that might be interested in funding us for another four weeks so we look forward to hearing more from them. It is still very, very cold outside in February so it would be nice to keep the doors open longer."
The raffle gave out $1,000 to prize winners Emily Zaritsky ($200) of Saskatoon, Jonathan Antoine ($300) of Fort St. James and Jenny Bourgeous ($500) from Prince George. The rest, $2,500, goes to the centre. The group is currently short only $1,500 for their winter plans, with more fundraisers pending.
The centre is typically open from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. It is not a place for sleeping, but anyone can drop in to warm up, watch a movie, play a board game, have a cup of coffee, and spend time until morning.
On hand Friday for the event was Nicole Doucette, a project officer with the Urban Aboriginal Strategy and Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association; Debbie Prince, an intervention and prevention worker for the drop-in centre; Kimberly McLeod, the community outreach co-ordinator/liaison for the PGMCA; and Pocha.
For information or to offer help of any kind call Pocha at 250-561-9484.
