Campers sleeping outside at the 2018 Camp Out to End Youth Homelessness event in Kamloops. This year's event will be virtual (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

2020 CAMP OUT TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

‘Katherine would’ve wanted us to do it’: Virtual 2020 camp out a go on Friday

Dec 7, 2020 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — A critical fundraising event for homeless youth in Kamloops is still going ahead on Friday.

A Way Home Kamloops says even in the wake of its executive director Katherine McParland’s death, the Camp Out to End Youth Homelessness is too important to cancel.

The event launched in 2017, and last year it raised $50,000. The money helps with the non-profit’s programs, which provide youth with housing, education, and employment training.

“The campout is going ahead. We did discuss whether we would be doing that and realized that it was really important to the community and everyone,” said President of the board of A Way Home Kamloops Louise Richards. “Most of the planning had been put in place already because the camp out is coming up this Friday, so we were able to continue with that. We’re very sure that Katherine would’ve wanted us to do it.”

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It was an event near to McParland’s heart, a virtual event this year that she was promoting on CFJC’s Midday show on Friday.

“People can camp from home this year and really stand in solidarity with young people who were without a home,” said McParland on the Dec. 4 Midday show.

A lot of youth experience hidden homelessness, and so by camping at home this year, you can camp in your living room, on the couch, with your kiddos, and have those critical conversations about what it’s like for young people who don’t have housing at this time.”

To sign up for the camp out or donate to the cause, you can visit A Way Home’s 2020 Camp Out page.