Orange Door Success

Our friends at the Home Depot Dartmouth Crossing have done it again. The latest in-store fundraiser for the Orange Door Project ran from November 28th through December 24th and raised over $8,500 in support of therapeutic, life-skill building programs.

We’ve been a charity partner with The Home Depot Canada Foundation’s Orange Door Project since 2014 and cannot express our gratitude enough. This initiative unites all 182 Home Depot stores across the country in a national effort to prevent and end youth homelessness. Youth homelessness is an important issue, and their efforts aligns perfectly with our focus on prepare the young people who live in the HomeBridge Community for successful independent living.

Their continued efforts with this campaign have funded thousands of outings and experiences for the young people who live in the HomeBridge Community that would otherwise not be possible. The population served in our programs are marginalized young people who come to us through the province’s Child Welfare Agency.  As a result of the circumstances that bring them to be in care, they are often well behind their peers when it comes to educational, cultural and recreational experiences.  They simply have not had the same opportunities as most young people their age.  This leaves them at a disadvantage both socially and academically, and negatively impacts their self-esteem. We work hard every day to change this reality for them and to provide them with as many positive experiences and opportunities as possible while they are with us.  The Home Depot’s support has been huge in helping to make this possible.  Every orange door they sell in store or online opens a door of possibilities for a group of young people who are in desperate need.

Right now, plans are being made for young people to try skiing or snowboarding for the first time; gym memberships are being purchased to help them learn healthy ways to self regulate and manage their emotions; a group are spending their Tuesday afternoons in a boat shop learning how to work with tools as they build a stand up paddle board; and just as importantly healthy relationships are being built with the team that is here to support them through their journey of healing and growth.  None of this would be possible without our friends in orange aprons being champions for HomeBridge and inviting their customers to support our efforts to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable youth in Nova Scotia.

Thank you to The Home Depot Canada Foundation, the team at The Home Depot in Dartmouth Crossing and every one of their generous and community minded customers that contributed to this campaign.