A big donation for My Friend’s House in Collingwood.
An anonymous donor gave the women’s shelter a new house.
Executive Director Alison Fitzgerald says she was in shock when she heard about the donation, and it is by far the biggest the shelter has ever received.
She says although the donor didn’t want to release his name, he is a regular contributor to the shelter, and felt he could do more to help them.
Fitzgerald says they have formed a committee to determine what to do with the house, but she adds they will not be turning it into an additional shelter, as they don’t have the funding to pay more staff.
She says they don’t have any outlandish ideas at this point, but they will be talking with women who have used their service, and other community groups, so the shelter can make the best possible decision for the area.
The restored heritage home isn’t far from the women’s shelter in Collingwood either.
Fitzgerald says without donations, they wouldn’t be open, and they have to fundraise 34 percent of their budget.
Staffing is paid for by the government, so she says the shelter has to fundraise 177 thousand dollars to operate, and pay for things like heating and food.