Put your money where your heart is

My Friend’s House has to get creative when it comes to fundraising. The 12- bed emergency shelter was accessed by 42 women and 27 children experiencing gender-based violence and abuse last year. Another 119 women accessed transitional support, and 83 children and youth accessed individual and group counselling.

With a 102 per cent occupancy rate, said event and community relations manager Ciara O’Connell, “We had to turn away 196 women last year because our shelter was full.”

Last year, My Friend’s House received 5,358 calls to its 24-hour support line, almost 4,000 of which were crisis calls from people looking for emergency shelter, and the balance were from callers looking for information and support.

While demand for services continue to increase, O’Connell said provincial funding has not increased over the past decade, with the exception of a temporary funding increase during the pandemic.

In total, My Friend’s House has to raise about $800,000 in operating costs each year.

The shelter only receives 45 per cent of its funding from the ministry. The balance is raised through events, grants, donations and corporate sponsorships.

The HeArt of Red Gala evolved out of the red shoe walk and Paint the Town Red event, a month-long fundraising campaign. As one of two annual signature events, the gala raised $62,000.

The goal for the evening is to connect engaging community members with artists by showcasing original pieces of artwork in an effort to raise awareness while helping women and children fleeing abusive situations.

The Sept. 20 gala, precipitated by an ambassador who wanted to host an event for My Friend’s House, celebrates creativity in many forms – visual art, poetry, music and food.

In addition to a performance by Quartetto Gelato – whose repertoire includes a mix of classical, tangos, gypsy, klezmer, jazz, and folk music – and hors d’oeuvres by chef Steven Doucet of Mamacita Tacoria, the gala will include a silent auction of juried artwork, with 50 per cent of proceeds from the art auction going to the shelter.

The gala will feature an appearance by Olympic medalist Catherine Garceau, who will speak about her experience as a survivor of domestic abuse.

The gala will also serve as a launch for a collection of poems based on gender based violence entitled Shelter in Place, from which all proceeds will go to My Friend’s House. The evening will include a reading from the book, described as a powerful body of work that gives voice to the lived realities of gender-based violence. The book, which includes original works by 18 poets, will be sold at the event and online.

“People want to have a great night out but feel like they’re giving back,” said O’Connell.

“It’s a heavy topic. It’s heavy work. It’s a lot of sad and traumatic experiences and people want to give and also feel like they’re having fun.”

The HeArt of Red Gala will be held at Side Launch Brewing Company, 200 Mountain Rd., Collingwood. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Dress code is semi formal. Tickets cost $150, which includes a $75 tax receipt. Admission includes one drink ticket.

For tickets, to see some of the 30 or so pieces of art, and to purchase the poetry book, visit myfriendshouse.ca/ heart-of-red.