This parking lot sale is raising funds to help vulnerable community members (8 photos)

A parking lot sale on Gore Street was bustling Saturday morning, as volunteers were helping to raise funds for two grassroots groups that assist both people living with substance use disorders and vulnerable youth in Sault Ste. Marie. 

The event marks the first joint fundraiser by Save Our Young Adults from Prescription Drug Abuse - widely known as SOYA - and Youthomes, which helps youth with subsidized rent and financial incentives for getting their lives on track.  

“I think it’s absolutely amazing that there’s so many people turning out, and here we are getting drizzled on a little bit in the weather,” said Youthomes founder Denis Beaulieu. “It’s awesome that the community is out and about, and joining us to support SOYA and Youthomes.”

SOYA founder Connie Raynor-Elliott says all the items up for grabs at Saturday's parking lot sale were donated by the public in the span of about a week. 

“Everything you see here has been donated for the parking lot sale, and we were overwhelmed,” said Raynor-Elliott. “Our depot was filled - we actually had to bring stuff and put it into trucks because we were so filled with the community support.”

Half of the proceeds from the parking lot sale will go toward overhead costs of the SOYA depot at 137 Gore Street, which has been in operation about a year-and-a-half now. Raynor-Elliott tells SooToday that the depot was considered an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the group’s ongoing distribution of personal hygiene products, clothing and food.

She adds that it’s the generosity of the community - including Grocer 4 Good handling the permitting process and allowing SOYA and Youthomes to use its parking lot - that helps keep SOYA afloat for people living with substance use issues. 

“We’re here to fill the gaps of our system, because we want to help people with substance use disorder,” she said. 

Beaulieu, a retired youth mental health worker with 30 years experience, considers himself a youth-engaged landlord who rents to vulnerable sector youth at his two properties in Sault Ste. Marie. He says that 50 per cent of the proceeds from the parking lot sale will help him offset some costs that are tied to offering affordable housing and incentives for disadvantaged youth. 

“If they volunteer to partner with me, they get cheaper rent, and I also have youth incentives. I give them financial incentives to work on particular goals,” said Beaulieu. “One youth just attended a Rebound North program, and got 50 bucks knocked off their rent. So it’s just an opportunity to give young people a leg up.”

Both groups were taken aback by the public reaction to their first joint fundraiser. 

“It’s community giving back to community,” Raynor-Elliott said. 

The parking lot sale continues at 137 Gore Street Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.