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Neighbourhood Place keeps on serving community despite lack of funds

Keeping the doors open to the Neighbourhood Place is of paramount importance to executive director Keith Williams.

Keeping the doors open to the Neighbourhood Place is of paramount importance to executive director Keith Williams.

Despite not being able to raise enough funds with crowdfunding website Indiegogo recently, the community stop has been able to creep along and serve its clients.

Keith Williams, executive director, said their most recent fundraiser of sandwiches and dessert Nov. 27 raised enough money to hold another fundraiser. Although he did not provide how much was raised, Williams said he was grateful to see some councillors attend. “The dollar amount isn’t important.”

“It was more of an awareness…In that regard, we were super successful,” added Williams.

Approximately 60 to 70 people attended and clients of Neighbourhood Place spoke up about why they use its services. Williams said a few tears were shed at this point. There appear to be other avenues available to Neighbourhood Place.

He is working on submitting a grant application to Central Alberta United Way — a three-year program called Moving People from Poverty to Possibility — which focuses on sustainable living and keeping people employed, he said.

“That’s my next big push here,” explained Williams.

While the Indiegogo fundraising event did not work out for the organization, Williams wants to keep going. “I will not give up on this community.”

Coats for the Cold

As Williams still comes to Neighborhood Place every Monday and Thursday, the Coats for the Cold program is still running. He receives donated winter coats for men, women and children, who can come in and get a warm jacket for the cold weather.

“We will still be here working for the public,” he concluded.