A seven-day-a-week drop-in center in Wallaceburg will close March 31 if a new source of funding can’t be found.
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Reach Out Chatham-Kent (ROCK) says the decision to close stems from unforeseen challenges, including the United Way of Chatham-Kent withdrawing funding and the end of a partnership with the 7 Generations Indigenous Cultural Friendship Center (7GICFC), where the drop- in center is located at 1531 Dufferin Ave.
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“We’re not happy with the fact we have to close. It wasn’t an easy decision,” said ROCK executive director Renee Geniole.
She said ROCK understands and respects the United Way and 7GICFC’s decisions and is grateful for the support of these organizations, including Ska:Na Family Learning Centre, over the years.
Geniole said the budget to operate the drop-in center, which opened in January 2022, runs about $200,000 a year to cover such expenses as rent, food and employees.
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The center provides food, harm-reduction supplies, hygiene products, community connection, and a safe, warm place to go seven days a week, she added.
“For those who depend on the services provided on a daily basis, there will be a significant gap in support,” Geniole said. “It is crucial for them to have access to these essential services.”
The drop-in center serves 20 to 40 people a day, including people who are homeless or struggling with food insecurity.
The Wallaceburg community has always shown strong support for ROCK and its work, Geniole said. The drop-in center is a vital community resource, offering physical and emotional support to those it serves.
Wallaceburg has a strong church network and strong sense of community, she said, but “before we opened the drop-in, there weren’t a lot of day services there.
“It will be a big loss for the community if we can’t figure something out in the interim,” Geniole added.
ROCK hopes Wallaceburg will rally to help provide funding needed to keep the drop-in center open, she said.
Monetary donations can be made online at reachoutck.com or in person at 39 Richmond St. in Chatham.
During this difficult transition, ROCK remains committed to supporting the community through outreach services in Wallaceburg and Chatham, the Peer-2-Peer program, and by keeping its Chatham drop-in center running five days a week, Geniole said
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