Dozens of skaters took a spin around the rink to support Youth Haven and its annual Boxes of Hope campaign Sunday.
Youth Haven was about halfway to its $70,000 goal as skaters of all ages circled the Allandale Recreation Centre ice surface.
Jennifer Kaplinski, assistant to the executive director at Youth Haven, said the Boxes of Hope are tailored to each user of the youth shelter, but the boxes are much more than hygiene products and cool shirts.
“It gives them a sense of hope, that the community cares about them,” she said, noting the $50 for each box is donated. “The youths can have a Christmas.”
Kaplinski said at 15 she was homeless and stayed at Youth Haven, so she knows how youths can feel at Christmas.
“It’s not just a job for me,” she said.
The Boxes of Hope campaign provides gift packages at Christmas to youth who are homeless or at risk of being homeless in the community.
The campaign helps ensure that each youth who comes to Youth Haven receives three healthy meals a day, a warm bed, a winter care package, support, counselling and gifts under the tree.
“The youths have Boxes of Hope coming from the community,” Kaplinski said.
Last year’s Boxes of Hope campaign raised more than $58,000 for the 600-plus youths helped by Youth Haven in 2021.
But 2022 has been another challenging year because of the pandemic. Youth Haven staff have nonetheless worked to ensure the safety and health of youth in emergency, transitional and outreach care, maintaining programs in Barrie, Orillia and across Simcoe County.
Sunday’s skate for Boxes of Hope was co-sponsored by Pro North Hockey Training and Madisyn’s Movement.
For more information or to donate, visit boxofhope.ca .
