Gena Robertson, executive director at SIRCH Community Services in Haliburton, said she’ll be using a recent $42,000 donation from Airbnb to expand on the non-profit’s popular ‘Last Chance’ initiative and launch an “exciting” new endeavour.
Representatives from the online rental accommodation agency were in Haliburton Feb. 3 to meet with staff and volunteers at the SIRCH Bistro.
Jacqueline Baptist, who lives in Algonquin Highlands and is a community leader volunteer with Airbnb, said the organization routinely invests in areas with a high number of rentals, with SIRCH seen as the perfect beneficiary given its mandate to support people in need in the County.
“We have about 400 hosts in our community, and we asked them who are the local charitable organizations that could use an infusion of cash – a large number said SIRCH,” Baptist said. “I’m a regular customer at the thrift warehouse and know all about the great things SIRCH does for people.
“The money is for SIRCH to use for their operations however they see fit,” Baptist added.
Robertson said some of the money will be used to build on the momentum of the ‘Last Chance’ project, which wrapped last fall. Between May and October, staff at the warehouse accepted wooden furniture that would normally be turned away, with local handyman Kevin Dunlop hired to breath some new life into the units.
The initiative diverted approximately 1,709 cubic feet of furniture from area landfills. Dunlop was able to create 110 pieces of new furniture, which were sold at the warehouse located at 128 Mallard Rd.
“We’re looking at a little project that will follow on from ‘Last Chance’ – same idea, where we give people an opportunity to think about how they can divert from the landfill. It’s going to be fun,” Robertson said.
She also wants to divert some funds towards transitioning storage containers on the warehouse property into mini storefronts, envisioning area artists setting up shop to sell their locally made arts and crafts and host workshops. Robertson said that’s not yet a done deal, noting she’s working with the township on a plan.
Baptist said SIRCH was a slam dunk for the money after learning what the money would be supporting.
“Environmental sustainability is one of Airbnb’s pillars that they built the community fund around. So SIRCH fulfilled a couple of different themes – the environmental aspect by diverting from the landfill and economic empowerment because of the training initiatives. They checked all the boxes,” she said.
Elizabeth Oakley, who helps manage a social media group for renters in the Highlands and Bancroft, joined Baptist last week – donating money and items to assist SIRCH in putting together 40 warming kits for people in the region.
Each unit is kitted with a sleeping bag, fleece blanket, an emergency mylar blanket, hat, socks, hand towel, and toiletries. She put the value at around $1,500.
Robertson noted the kits would be handed out to people most in need in the County and North Hastings, working with 12 distribution partners the organization routinely works with through programs like the Community Kitchen meal delivery initiative.
She said the kitchen in Haliburton prepares over 1,500 meals each month and has produced more than 95,000 since launching in 2020.
Demand peaked through the pandemic, but Robertson said SIRCH continues to support people through that, and the weekly ‘Lunch is On Us’ initiative, which provides a free meal to community members dining in at the bistro on Wednesdays. Since November, more than 600 diners have benefitted.
For more information on programs, visit sirch.on.ca.
