Richmond Dry Cleaners and BNI Northern Connections provided Odyssey House residents with a warm welcome into winter during their annual Share the Warmth campaign.
The annual campaign has been ongoing since 2019, with more than 1,500 garments donated to the Odyssey House since its inception, and Richmond Drycleaners General Manager Don Murray says this year was “another great success.”
“In trying times, whether its good times or bad times, there’s always some people who are less fortunate so if we can help people along the way, you know what, that’s what it’s all about,” he says.
This year saw 192 garments dropped off at the Odyssey House, representing around $3,300 in dry cleaning. Compared to last year’s campaign which saw nearly 700 garments donated, the numbers have gone down. Despite this, Murray maintains that Share the Warmth will continue, and says even with the rising cost of living being observed throughout the country, Grande Prairie still manages to make it happen every year.
“I think people are still struggling in different ways, the price of groceries, the price of gas, the price of everything has just kept on going up, and jobs are scarce, it’s just tough times, but it’s about if one person can help the person beside them,” he says. “It’s the smile factor, if we can put a smile on one person’s face today, it’s all worth it.”
The drycleaning was dropped off on October 29th, and will directly benefit street-engaged individuals, single parents, and other residents of the Odyssey House.
