Image: A Way Home Kamloops Society

By Dylana Kneeshaw

CAMPERS WANTED

A Way Home Kamloops preparing for virtual Camp Out to End Youth Homelessness this weekend

Dec 8, 2021 | 4:08 PM

KAMLOOPS — This weekend (Dec. 10-11), A Way Home Kamloops will be hosting its annual Camp Out to End Youth Homelessness.

The organization has spent the past year advocating for policy changes concerning youth aging out of foster care, and hopes to use money raised by the event to support youth experiencing homelessness. This will be the first time A Way Home Kamloops has organized a camp out event without its late founder, Katherine McParland.

Programs Manager Kira Cheeseborough says this year’s virtual event will be raising money to continue running existing programs such as Safe Suites, along with future programs through Katherine’s Place — an upcoming housing development for young people experiencing homelessness.

“A portion of that [event funding] will be continuing the programming that we offer right now, and as well it will also be put into reserve for programming that we will offer at Katherine’s Place, which we plan to have completely youth informed – whether they’re in our housing currently, on our wait list, or are just in the community in general.”

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This year’s event will be held online, featuring a memorial for McParland, and a variety of virtual games for participants. Youth Projects Coordinator Daniel Galbraith says the memorial part of the program will be open for the public to pay their respects.

Thanks to early support from Enbridge Fueling Futures, Teck Highland Valley Copper, and title sponsor Skemtsin Environmental Inc, the campaign has raised $78,000 so far, with the final camp out goal set at $250,000.

Galbraith says they decided to go big with their campaign goal, and are hoping to get another boost in sign ups before Friday (Dec. 10).

“Donations don’t just stop the night of the camp out, donations go up until I believe February, so you can continue to donate even if you haven’t camped out or signed up, and then you’re golden.”

To register for the Camp Out on Dec. 10, or find out more information, go to www.awayhomekamloops.com.