The Home Depot in Airdrie will contribute to the Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie's (BGCA) efforts to assist at-risk and homeless youth from May 30 to June 23 with its annual Orange Door Project.
“As one of the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population in Canada, youth homelessness is an urgent and complex issue," said Pam O’Rourke, vice president of The Home Depot Canada Foundation, in a press release. "We are working together, with our community partners, to help truly understand and address the unique needs of at-risk and homeless youth, so we can help end this cycle."
According to Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey, young people aged 13 to 24 who are homeless, make up approximately 20 per cent of the homeless population in Canada. The survey also suggests, there are at least 35,000 to 40,000 youth experiencing homelessness in any given year.
During the campaign, customers can donate $2 to support BGCA in providing a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life, according to the release. One-hundred per cent of donations, O’Rourke said, will go "directly to helping local youth."
The project has raised more than $9.5 million since 2007, according to The Home Depot, and supports more than 120 organizations across Canada that are committed to preventing and ending homelessness across the country.
