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By Dylana Kneeshaw

DONATIONS FOR A WAY HOME

Camp Out to End Youth Homelessness sets sights on $155K fundraising goal

Dec 8, 2023 | 5:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — Over the years, the Camp Out to End Youth Homelessness has grown both in its fundraising goals, and the amount of repeat campers who sign up.

“So this is my second year camping out and I’m really excited. I do it virtually out in Monte Lake,” says Nicole Larsen, A Way Home’s Housing Manager.

For those who knew Katherine McParland – the late founder of A Way Home Kamloops – the event holds special meaning.

“It’s really remarkable to have community come together,” says Larsen. “When Katherine started camp-out a few years ago it was just a small group and now the fact that it’s getting larger and larger, and people are doing it virtually, it’s pretty special.”

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A Way Home Executive Director Tangie Genshorek says this year’s fundraiser will be held in McDonald Park tonight (Dec. 8), right beside McParland’s memorial tree.

“It’s a great piece to just physically have her here camping with us at the park.”

Extra motivation to keep working on the task-at-hand: ending youth homelessness.

“We’ve got a goal of raising $155,000 dollars and those dollars are for our programming for wraparound supports for youth at A Way Home,” explains Genshorek.

Part of why fundraising through the Camp Out is so crucial is to keep A Way Home’s Programs going, which will eventually include the operation of Katherine’s Place. A brand new building with 39 units for at-risk and unhoused youth to call home.

“It took a little while to get started as people know, but now that we’ve started the construction is going really smoothly. Everything is looking really good,” notes Genshorek, “We’re supposed to occupy the building by October next year, maybe by the end of next year.”

Friday evening (Dec. 8), A Way Home hopes to give camp out participants a tiny glimpse into the unhoused experiences that could be changed with proper support.

“Of course the most important feedback is from the youth themselves,” says Genshorek, “When we see them grow and thrive and move into their own unit and go to school and get jobs. And when they can reflect back and say that we (A Way Home Kamloops) had something to do with that, it just makes our work worthwhile.”

People can register right up until the last minute to camp – either at the park, or virtually. And donation pledges can be made online right through to the middle of January 2024.