With the support of the King's community, King's Community Fundraising Committee (CFC) has raised $13,532 for the Health and Homelessness Fund for Change, administered by the London Community Foundation, over the 2023-2024 academic year. The anonymous donor who started the fund will match this donation.
King's fundraising efforts came through collaboration between the CFC (formerly the United Way Committee), the Social Committee, King's Campus Ministry, KAMP, King's SOPHs and the King's University College Students' Council (KUCSC). The CFC organized many events, including the following.
- Strawberry Social
- King's Garage Sale, organized by Wendy Scanlan, Central Services Assistant
- O-Serves car wash with SOPHs during O-Week
- World Homelessness Day sock/mitt drive with KAMP and Campus Ministry
- Silent Auction
- King's Christmas Luncheon 50/50 and basket raffle
- St. Patrick's Day coin toss with the Social Committee
In addition, the King's University College Chamber Choir raised $7,558.55 from their Christmas Concert on December 2, 2023, and Spring Concert on April 6, 2024, towards the fund. "We are very proud to have been able to raise these funds for a very worthy and important cause in our community," says Janet Loo, Campus Minister and Conductor of the Chamber Choir.
Jessica Woods, Accessibility and Personal Counsellor, explains that because of our Catholic tradition, which focuses on the whole person and community, King's cares deeply about homelessness. Housing insecurity is one of the top concerns of our students and our community.
"At King's, we realize wellness is of the utmost importance to a person's academic, emotional and social success. Having safe housing is critical to a person's ability to maintain wellness. Helping our London community and students impacted by homelessness speaks to King's values of taking care of each other, and creating a place and space where people feel supported and belong," says Woods.
Diane Silva, President and CEO of the London Community Foundation (LCF), says the donation from King's is essential to supporting London's efforts to end the health and homelessness crisis.
"Together with all donors to the Fund for Change, King's contribution means that the right health care and housing support can be quickly created for London's most marginalized unhoused people, which is critical for saving lives," says Silva.
With the money raised by King's and other Fund for Change contributors, two hubs, the Atlohsa Family Healing Services, which serves Indigenous people, and Youth Opportunities Unlimited, which serves young people, began welcoming people in December 2023.
Hubs are a new model of integrated health care and services for homeless people with complex needs. Operating 24/7 with the ability to accommodate 25-30 people, hubs include respite beds for short-term use and transitional rooms for longer-term stays. Money contributed through King's fundraising efforts will support the creation of more hubs focused on specific populations, such as women and female-identifying people, couples and families, and people with complex medical conditions.
"What makes this gift even more special is knowing that King's is supporting a cause that goes beyond campus walls. You are not only a leader in education, but you are also standing up for the most vulnerable in our community," says Silva.
