The Home Depot in Thunder Bay has partnered with Shelter House to raise funds in support of at-risk and homeless youths and has started its annual Orange Door Campaign.
From now until June 22, Home Depot customers can donate at the store’s checkout or online at OrangeDoorProject.ca in support of the cause.
Andrew Parron, The Home Depot community investment lead, and Kaija Oksanen, the store’s front-end supervisor, have tag-teamed to organize this year’s campaign.
Oksanen says there is a lot of thought that goes into the planning of the campaign.
“We’ve taken a lot of time to plan different events that we’re going to run during the campaign to raise some extra money, as well as running different events weekly for my cashiers as incentives to get them to promote it as well,” she said. “But the main thing that people need to know is this is a locally-supported campaign. So 100 per cent of whatever people donate goes straight to the Thunder Bay Shelter House.”
Shelter House spokesperson Champagne Thompson told The Chronicle-Journal that the mission of the shelter is to create a more equitable society by uplifting those who are systemically marginalized and underserved.
“We focus on shared responsibility, community benefits, harm reduction and the inherent worth of every individual,” Thompson said. “We champion the universal right to basic needs such as safe shelter, nutritious food, and clothing. We are committed to working in partnership to achieve societal change.”
During the 2024 campaign, Home Depot raised more than $10,300 for Shelter House and this year, Oksanen says their goal is to raise $10,700 or more.
