Local Home Depot kicks off annual Orange Door Project campaign

NEWS RELEASE

HOME DEPOT

*************************
The Home Depot Canada’s Sault Ste. Marie store will kick off its Orange Door fundraising campaign Sept. 1, with 100 per cent of funds raised going to Pauline's Place Non-Profit Homes.

Customers shopping at the store can donate $2.00 at the checkout in exchange for an orange paper door. All donations will stay in the community to help Pauline's Place Non-Profit Homes provide groceries and other basic essentials to youth who are homeless.

“Youth homelessness is one of the most urgent social issues in Canada today. Together with our community we’re building a brighter future for young people across Canada – one orange door at a time,” said Jeff Kinnaird, chair, board of directors, The Home Depot Canada Foundation and president, The Home Depot Canada.

The Orange Door Project was established with the goal of eliminating youth homelessness in Canada. One hundred eighty-two Home Depot Canada stores are taking part in this year’s campaign by selling paper orange doors in-store, and by rolling up their sleeves to help local charities complete renovation projects that will help the organizations feel more like home.

The campaign runs from Sept. 1 to Oct. 9. The 10 stores that raise the most money by the end of the campaign will have their donations matched by The Home Depot Canada, with every dollar raised staying in the community to help Pauline's Place Non-Profit Homes.

Quick Facts:

• The Orange Door Project in-store fundraising campaign has raised more than $5.4 million since its inception in 2007.
• In 2015, Home Depot Canada associates donated 60,000 hours of hands-on help in their communities.
• Youth are one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population in Canada. One in five shelter users in Canada are youth aged 16 to 24.
• Every night, 6,000 young people in Canada either sleep outside or go to an emergency shelter. Even more are part of a hidden homeless population who ‘couch surf’ with family or friends.

About The Home Depot Canada Foundation

The Home Depot Canada Foundation is committed to putting an end to youth homelessness in Canada. On any given night, more than 6,000 young people are without a place to call home, making youth homelessness one of the most urgent social issues facing Canadians today.

Through The Orange Door Project initiative, the Foundation has made a three-year, $10-million pledge to support renovation and repair projects and programs that provide vulnerable youth with access to safe, stable housing and support services. For more information, please visit: www.homedepot.ca/foundation 

About Pauline's Place Non-Profit Homes Inc.

Pauline's Place Non-Profit Homes Inc. provides access to safe, affordable housing for male youth ages 16-17, female youth 16-21 years of age, and women who are experiencing crisis and find themselves homeless.

Services include basic necessities (meals, shelter, financial assistance), outreach, advocacy, supportive counseling, training in basic living skills (cooking, cleaning, hygiene), referrals to support services (housing, drug and alcohol and employment services), assistance in making the transition to safe, affordable accommodations or returning home, continuing service to those that transition into the community,  and post shelter support.

Funds raised through The Orange Door Project campaign will support essentials such as groceries.

*************************