With the clock ticking down to midnight, the Downtown Mission in Windsor believes it will be very close to its $1-million fundraising goal.
As of Monday, the mission had collected $943,197. That leaves just $56,803, and Executive Director Ron Dunn thinks they will come very close.
"Well, I'd say we're closing to having to raise $50,000," he says Tuesday morning. "We've had lots of folks drop in this morning and overnight, online. We're feeling pretty good."
The money raised during this campaign will be matched up to $1-million by local philanthropist Al Quesnel.
"It's probably been less than 45 days, so we're really proud of the efforts of our team and more than that, the generosity of Essex County," says Dunn.
The money will help support existing and new programs at the mission, including a new dental health program for the homeless and working poor.
"Dental care, we know is linked to your overall health care and there's so many people who have full-time jobs but don't have a dental plan," Dunn says.
Programs at the Wellness Centre on Ouellette Ave. include the shelter, a food bank, clothing, skills training, housing referral assistance, and help navigating the healthcare system.
