It’s hard to put yourself in the shoes of a young person living on the street. Every tragic situation is different – teens running from abuse at home, fighting addiction to hard drugs, trying to break free from pimps or predators. The staff and volunteers at Edmonton’s Youth Emergency Shelter Society hear these stories everyday. With our economy in a rut, YESS is taking hits from both sides. Donations are down but demand for services is on the rise.
On Wednesday evening, I have the honour of attending the annual YESS “Great Expectations” fundraiser at the Delta Edmonton South hotel. YESS needs close to $4.5 million to keep its doors open every year – more than 60% of that operating budget comes from donors like you and me. For close to 30 years, YESS has provided a safe haven for young people in need. Today, more than 70 staff and 150 volunteers keep the shelter open, facilitate youth programs and mentor our city’s ”next generation.”
Leading up to “Great Expectations” on Wednesday evening, I wanted to get a better idea of what goes on down at the shelter – to go beyond a 90-second news story, so to speak. I accepted an invitation from Sue Keating, Opportunity Manager at YESS, to tour the facility and hear more about how young people are turning their lives around. Click on the video below to come along!
YESS has never needed Edmontonians’ support more than right now. Wednesday’s fundraiser is open to anybody! It’s free to attend (there will be a call for donations at the end of the hour) and it’s an excellent opportunity to hear testimonials on how crucial YESS is to Edmonton. Hope to see you there!
rpj.