Youth Haven (Barrie) New Location Grand Opening (June 2009):

After two long years in waiting, Youth Haven (Barrie) is entering a new phase in our history. For the past three years Youth Haven (Barrie) has operated over capacity due to its current location’s lack of space. Although our Toronto Street location has provided a loving home for over 500 youth per year, its 9 bed capacity has not been able to meet the increasing youth shelter demands of Simcoe County’s booming population. This February we were blessed to purchase a new location, 20-22 Wellington Street East, in order to increase our bed capacity and expand our programs and services to better meet the needs of Simcoe County’s teen homeless population. This 11 bedroom facility will be equipped with 15 transitional beds and 5 emergency spots.

Renovations are slotted to begin this March 2009 with an opening ceremony planned for June 2009. In attendance will be representatives from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca:80/en/ab/noho/noho_017.cfm), the federal and provincial governments, and our Capital Campaign Sponsors. Community members are invited to attend this momentous event and celebrate a huge step forward for Simcoe County’s only youth shelter.

If anyone is interested in contributing to this exciting new project, here are a few areas in which we would greatly appreciate your help:

• Donate your time or services during the renovations of the house and the upkeep thereafter (snow plowing, grass cutting, general repairs of building, painting etc).
• Donate gently used furniture such as: single beds, new single mattresses, gently used couches, large kitchen table with chairs, coffee tables, dishes and kitchen wares, new single mattresses, gently used blankets and linens, curtains etc.
• Donations of hygiene items (razors, shampoos, deodorants, toilet paper, tampons, tooth brushes and toothpaste)
• Donations of food (canned goods, dry food stuffs, milk, cheese, yogurt, meats, lunch items)
• Donations of clothing (seasonal clothing, work boots, shoes, jackets, school uniforms, new socks and underwear)
• Pre-made dinner donations to feed 20 youth (pre-made bulk dinners such as lasagnas, spaghetti dinners, chili, turkey suppers, casseroles, baked goodies)

For further information on how you can help, please call Sarah Lockhart or Nicole Barkley at 705-739-7616.

Re-visiting 2008

Evening of Crystal Enchantment (November 1, 2008): Our second annual gala was held at the Georgian College Dinning Room on November 1st. Cocktails started at 6:00pm and dinner started at 7:00pm. The event boasted a dj, buffet dinner, dancing and silent auction. All proceeds went towards the expansion of our home.

"Just Gifts" Bazaar (November 22nd and 23rd from 9:00 - 1:00, 2008):

In order to celebrate the season of giving, of family and friends we participated in St. Mary's Church's "Just Gifts" Bazaar in November. Guests had the opportunity to purchase Youth Haven specific gifts to give to friends and family, and to give hope to the youth who call Youth Haven home.

Violence Prevention through Narration Program (January 2008 - June 2008):

Because we are aware of the violence that youth experience first hand, in relation to hate crimes, intolerance and bullying, we are launching a new program in collaboration with Talk is Free Theatre to develop a therapeutic dramatization of youth's experiences with violence and hate crimes to perform at local high schools. The experience proved invaluable to participants and left a lasting impression on spectators.

Looking Back at 2007:

Masquerade Gala (Oct. 27):

This fall we hosted our first masquerade gala, "One Enchanted Evening," at Georgian College in order to raise money for the integral services that Youth Haven provides to its residents. The gala featured dinner, dancing, spot prizes and a silent auction. It was a smashing success and an excellent opportunity dust off those dancing shoes while supporting a vital cause. We raised almost $6,000 with that evening through the generosity and support of our community! Thank-you.

"Just Gifts" Bazaar (November 2007):

In order to celebrate the season of giving, of family and friends we participated in St. Mary's Church's "Just Gifts" Bazaar in November. Guests had the opportunity to purchase Youth Haven specific gifts to give to friends and family, and to give hope to the youth who call Youth Haven home. We would also like to thank the many generous givers in Simcoe County who donated money, gifts, food and stockings to our youth this holiday season. Your generosity ensured that our youth enjoyed a memorable Christmas! Not one day passes when we do not remember your generosity in our hearts and prayers. Thank you!

Keeping Our Kids off the Street Campaign (June 2007/ 2008):

This past June, in collaboration with Second Cup on Dunlop Street, A & P Foods, Tunnel Clothing, Page and Turners, Kiddie Cuts and the South End Wal-Mart, we launched our logo sale and awareness campaign. With the support of these stores we were able to raise $500.00 from the sale of our logos while increasing our awareness within the community. This June we will re-approach local businesses to ask them to help support this campaign by selling logos for $1.00 to customers in support of our home. All proceeds go directly to our home and programs.

School Challenge Campaign 07 / 08 (March 2008):

After the wonderful success of last spring's school campaign, we will be hosting our 2008 school challenge campaign this March. Last year we had 6 enthusiastic schools participate in this campaign and we hope to work with all of the Simcoe County Schools this year. The goal of this campaign is simple: come up with fun and creative fundraising ideas to raise money for Youth Haven! The school who raises the most money will win a video dance from Cyber Force!

Please continue to check our website for updates on more exciting events as we continue to develop them. Feel free to send us pictures of yourselves, your classes, and your businesses participating in these events so that we may post them on our website and celebrate the generous and hard work of all the people involved in the event's success! If you have any questions, or would like to help out at any of these events, contact Sarah Lockhart at 739-7616 for further information. When you invest in the youth of today, you foster the leaders of Barrie's tomorrow.