One of the more elaborate shelters constructed for the Sleep Out So Others Can Sleep In event in Belleville. (All Photos: John Spitters/Quinte News)
The Executive Director of the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association couldn’t be happier.
Sandie Sidsworth said the 12th annual Sleep Out So Others Can Sleep in event raised over $11,000 (with money still coming in) overnight Friday.
The event’s goal was $10,000.
Stan Hart, 51 of Trenton but now living in Belleville, has participated for 9 years.
“We started out the evening with just one box on the parking lot but within an hour the lot was full and had around 100 people participating. We had great
speakers and we’d already hit our goal by 10 o’clock” said Sidsworth.
Sleep Out Sleep In sees people sleeping outside in makeshift shelters to experience what life is like in a Canadian winter for the homeless and those suffering
with mental illness.
All of the money raised at the event goes for repairs and general maintenance at the Society’s transitional houses. Last year 141 people used those facilities for
varying lengths of time.
Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Hastings and Prince Edward, Sandie Sidsworth.
This year’s event was held just outside of the Association’s new offices in the former Nortel building on Sidney Street in Belleville. Previously it had been
held in Market Square downtown but because of the uncertainty surrounding the downtown reconstruction work it was moved to the west end.
“We were worried about moving the location but it’s worked out really well. People can come in and out of our offices and we have easily built a windbreak to help
keep people a little warmer. We will have to think a little before deciding on where we’ll do it again next January.”
Among the speakers early Friday evening were MP Neil Ellis, MPP Todd Smith, Sandy Watson-Moyles of Three Oaks and Sheila Braidek of the Belleville-Quinte West Community Health Centre.
