The Downtown Mission's new foodbank and clothing centre is open and serving customers.
It's part of the renovations of the Wellness Centre at 875 Ouellette Ave. that will house social enterprises, a shelter and rehab facility.
Executive Director Ron Dunn says the foodbank and clothing centre opening is an important first step.
"We're in a great new space with lots of space, that was a problem in our last facility and we're looking forward to helping people for the Christmas season especially," says Dunn.
Dunn says they are serving about 800 people a week at the new location. The Pelissier St. location is now closed but donations can still be made to the Victoria Ave. location.
"I can't say donations are soft but we're just helping so many more people that we really need the help. As you can see by looking around the shelves are not full exactly and we're headed into our busy season," says Dunn.
Dunn expects the Do-Good Deli to open by the new year and hopes to have the shelter up an running shortly after that. Once open the shelter will have separate dorms for men and women and Windsor's first youth emergency shelter.
Dunn says they have raised just over half of their $750,000 fundraising goal for the new building.
The Downtown Mission foodbank on Ouellette Ave. November 25, 2016. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
