Real estate firms raise more than $200,000 for COVID-19 relief

By NextHome Staff
May 06, 2020
Update: As of Friday, May 8, the partners had reached the fundraising goal of $330,000.Capital Developments and a number of other real estate companies are doing their part to provide COVID-19 relief to one very important Toronto cause – the Yonge Street Mission – the largest food bank in east downtown.[caption id="attachment_56176" align="alignnone" width="600"]Yonge Street Mission Yonge Street Mission staff prepare meals for their food bank services.[/caption]Now, they’re issuing a challenge to other firms to take part in the YSM Fundraiser Relay to help raise much-needed funds.As Yonge Street Mission responds to the COVID-19 crisis, the agency has experienced unprecedented increases in food bank visits every week, resulting in a $330,000 shortfall.Every week, YSM is facing a $30,000 shortfall – and growing weekly. To sustain YSM’s operations for the next 11 weeks, Capital Developments and other companies are challenging other organizations to join the #YSMRELAY and donate $30,000 to help reach the minimum goal of $330,000.

Real support

Besides Capital Developments, other real estate companies participating include Woodbourne Capital Management, EllisDon, Baker Real Estate and St. Thomas Development. Also on board are Sobeys and Donald K. Jackson Family Foundation.Yonge Street Mission Capital Developments kickstarted the campaign by donating $30,000 to cover the first week donation.Over its 124-year history, YSM has tirelessly supported Toronto’s most vulnerable in the heart of the downtown. As the largest food bank in the Downtown East, the agency is facing a huge increase in demand for its services amidst social distancing and closure of nonessential services.Like many of the most vulnerable in Toronto, clients who depend on YSM have been hit hardest by this global pandemic – and so many more now need their services.The Mission has seen a 205-per-cent increase in food bank visits, many from first-time clients, and a 180-per-cent increase in the number of families and individuals fed since pre-COVID-19. YSM is spending $30,000 to $35,000 per week on groceries to meet the demand, compared to an annual food budget of $30,000.Will your organization pass the baton for one week?To help YSM continue to provide basic food and essential services to Toronto's most vulnerable communities during COVID-19, visit ysm.ca.  

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