Rugby club pitches in to help the hungry and homeless
Carmichael Outreach’s daily efforts for homeless gets Dog River Howlers’ backing
In an effort to help both a local business and charity, a Regina rugby club is spearheading a weekly fundraiser to provide bagged lunches for those in need.
“Coronavirus is hitting us all hard, but those who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness, are hit especially hard,” says a news release from the Dog River Howlers Rugby Club.
“Carmichael Outreach struggles to provide lunches for these people, and you can help.”
Club president Karl Fix was struck by the idea after hearing Carmichael Outreach was often short of bagged lunches on Wednesdays.
That day he headed to Superstore and bought enough supplies to make 20 bagged lunches to donate.
“The next morning, I always go for coffee at Brewed Awakening ... and they’re working hard, as you can imagine anyone in the restaurant business are just struggling,” said Fix in an interview Friday.
He spoke to the owners, Ken and Lisa Macmurchy, who agreed that for every $10 donation they received, they would prepare and deliver a bagged lunch to Carmichael Outreach every week on Wednesday.
With whatever money is left over, they will make a cash donation to Carmichael Outreach to buy their own food.
To kick it off, the club has donated $1,000 for the first 100 lunches.
Brewed Awakening will accept donations at four locations throughout the city: Harbour Landing, Woodhams Drive, Hill Avenue and Hamilton Street.
To kick things off, local guitar legend Jack Semple will perform at the Brewed Awakening on Woodhams Dr. from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on May 20.
“We always say it’s more than a game, it’s a way of life and that’s the idea that you gotta give,” said Fix.
He hopes the initiative will pick up enough steam that they can start donating to other charities in the city as well and maybe other cities across the country will start doing something similar.
The theme of the fundraiser is “Lean on Me,” based on the popular Bill Withers song, which organizers say “encapsulates the need for those in trouble to lean on those of us more fortunate.”
OTHER HELPERS
In the same spirit, a few other organizations are stepping up to do their part and help those less fortunate.
The Canadian Western Bank (CWB) is helping out the K Family Restaurant, which has been closed since March 21, but whose owners have been making hot lunches, also for Carmichael Outreach.
“These are fresh-made meals that the owners of K Family Kitchen are paying out of pocket for, ordering in fresh supplies after donating the food they had after their shutdown due to COVID -19,” said a CWB news release.
To recognize their efforts, CWB is paying for a week’s worth of meals that Robyn Kouras and her daughter normally provide. The meals will be provided by Browns Socialhouse, which will also treat the restaurant owners-turned-philanthropists to a “well-deserved meal of their own.”
Coronavirus is hitting us all hard, but those ... homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness, are hit especially hard.
Earlier this week, United Way Regina announced an $88,000 investment funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
The funds will be distributed to agencies and organizations that will help vulnerable seniors in Regina and the surrounding area during these unprecedented times.
“United Way Regina remains committed to supporting the agencies working tirelessly on the front-line to meet the needs of those most affected by COVID-19,” said chief executive officer Robyn Edwards-bentz in a news release.
A total of eight Regina-area organizations including Spinal Cord Injury Saskatchewan Inc., Eden Care Communities, and the North Central Family Centre Inc. will receive $43,000 of the total funding.
Eco Safe Zone Cleaning, a local disinfectant company that uses electrostatic technology to fully disinfect homes and businesses in Regina and area, is also offering free service for nursing homes and medical offices for the month of May.