More than $1.5 million in supplies contributed by Invis mortgage brokers
since the program’s inception
Toronto, December 8, 2009 – Today and into the night, teams of Angels in the Night volunteers will personally deliver $250,000 worth of newly-purchased clothing and supplies to 65 residential shelters in 12 Canadian cities.
This event marks a year’s worth of fundraising by mortgage brokers at Invis, one of Canada’s largest mortgage brokerage firms, along with their friends, families and business partners. Since the program was established in 2002, Angels in the Night volunteers have raised more than $1.5 million in support of The Salvation Army.
“As mortgage consultants we work throughout the year help Canadians become homeowners, but with Angels in the Night we do what we can to help those who are homeless or in transition.” said Gord Dahlen, president and chief executive officer of Invis. “We hope our efforts can help make a difference, especially at this time of year.”
While the exact number of homeless persons in Canada remains unknown, a recent Statistics Canada report revealed that approximately 101,000 Canadian women and children stayed in shelters last year.
Each year, Angels in the Night volunteers work directly with registered shelters to identify supplies they need the most, and then partner with national wholesale suppliers to get the best possible value for their dollars. For example, $100 can purchase 135 pairs of sport socks, 50 knit toques, 35 pairs of gloves or 20 sweatshirts. Cold-weather clothing items are most often requested, but this year requests for personal care items such as soap, shampoo, and toothbrushes were also common.
“In a year when many Canadians have experienced economic hardship, demand for our services has increased – and shelters need these essentials more than ever,” said Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary for Public Relations and Development at the Canadian Headquarters of The Salvation Army. “Angels in the Night donations make a positive impact in our efforts to support those seeking a way out of homelessness.”
This year, Angels in the Night volunteers will visit homeless shelters in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Vernon, Cranbrook, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Halifax.
Start times and locations
Members of the media are welcome to lend a hand as volunteers in the following cities:
Halifax | 105 – 3260 Barrington Street | 5:00 pm
Toronto | 446 Parliament Street | 6:30 pm
Winnipeg | Invis Office | 2310 Pembina Hwy. | 4:00 pm
Calgary | Army & Navy Store | 1107 – 33rd Street NE | 6:00 pm
(parking lot north side of store)
Edmonton Army & Navy Store | 137 Avenue & 66 Street | 5:00 pm
Red Deer | 4837 54th Street | 6:30 pm
Vancouver | 901 East Hastings Street | 5:30 pm
(rear entrance, west door)
Victoria | 505 771 Vernon Avenue | 4:00 pm
Kelowna | Kelowna Gospel Mission 251 Leon Avenue | 1:00 pm
Vernon | Invis Office 4705 B 29th Street | 5:00 pm
Nanaimo | 1 – 1200 Princess Royal Avenue | 5:00 pm
Cranbrook | Women’s Resource Centre 45 13th Avenue | 5:00 pm
About Angels in the Night
Angels in the Night is a volunteer community event founded by Invis in 2002. Angels in the Night aims to raise money for The Salvation Army through mortgage brokers, financial institutions, business partners and other service providers to purchase blankets, outerwear and other clothing and supplies for homeless shelters and other charitable organizations. Please visit www.angelsinthenight.ca.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 113 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, provides shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to addiction. News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca
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For more information and to schedule an interview:
Jessica Davidson or Meredith Adolph
Environics Communications
416-969-2735 or 416-969-2667
jdavidson@environicspr.com or madolph@environicspr.com
Homelessness is the condition and social category of people who lack housing, because they cannot afford, or are otherwise unable to maintain, regular, safe, and adequate shelter. The term “homelessness” may also include people whose primary nighttime residence is in a homeless shelter, in an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or in a public or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings……….
A very small number of people choose to be homeless
http://www.2010homelesschampions.ca/index.htm
This website is dedicated to telling the stories of the unfortunate individuals living in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver in the hope that awareness of this problem will spur people to get involved, to let all levels of government know that something has to be done to alleviate this misery rooted in addiction, homelessness and depravity. To point the way to recovery from addiction, which we believe is the root of most of this situation. With the 2010 Olympics coming to Vancouver it is our mandate to record the transition and the extreme changes that are even now occurring and will continue to unfold in the Downtown Eastside.