Torres Shelter holds its first fundraiser since COVID
CHICO » In its first in-person event since the pandemic, the Torres Shelter introduced its latest fundraising campaign to people at Lower Bidwell Park with ice cream, games and live music.
The campaign for the Torres Shelter, a program of the True North Housing Alliance, sets a goal to raise $400,000 in 100 days, also known as their “four by 100” campaign.
“A lot of folks in the community haven’t been able to connect with us for a long time because of covid, so this event is more of a way to connect and provide a fun space where people can get to know us while they share ice cream and music,” said Torres Shelter Executive Director Taylor Storey. “I mean, today’s event isn’t designed to be a great money-maker.”
At the moment, the campaign has raised $139,605.27, which puts the group at 35% of its goal before the first month has finished.
With the return of enforcing anti-camping ordinance enforcements, the Torres Shelter is seeing its numbers increase.
“It’s a good thing, we have the available beds and we want to share the space and we’re trying to fundraise so we can continue to provide quality services to the folks who are coming in to seek shelter,” said Storey.
The shelter expects to receive more people seeking shelter as the Comanche Creek Greenway begins to see enforcement, said Director of Operations Jacque Lewkowicz.
“We serve anyone, you could check-in as long as you’re a Butte County resident and seeking shelter,” said Lewkowicz. “You could even check-in if you’re testing positive for something because we have a separate program that you go into, so we really work with everyone that’s experiencing homelessness and needs shelter.”
When a person walks into the shelter seeking shelter, the first goal is to get them stabilized before a person and their case manager can focus on finding a source of income and then a form of permanent housing, said Lewkowicz.
“When they’re coming in, they’re coming in from the street, so their nutrition and hygiene isn’t where it should be, so we are literally there to stabilize them,” said Lewkowicz. “We have showers, laundry and clothes if they need them with clothes and a bed that they can have every day.”
When people are sheltering at Torres, they are doing
their part to be accountable to do their part to move forward, said Lewkowicz.
“I implore people to come and visit the shelter and see who we serve,” said Lewkowicz, “Usually, there is a stigma surrounding homelessness and when they walk through the door, that stigma drops.”
The event included raffles for artwork donated by local artists as well as gift cards donated from local businesses such as Bacio Catering, Great Harvest and Barnes and Noble, said Storey.
“I’m just truly overwhelmed by the community effort for this event,” said Storey. “We had a good problem, we had too many volunteers and it’s nice to see people’s desire to help us out and believe in what we’re doing.”