The community of Chatham-Kent is once again proving how generous it is when it comes to giving back.
At the beginning of December, local home-building company Maple City Homes launched the Helping the Homeless Through the Holidays challenge. It called on Chatham-Kent residents to raise $100,000 to help homelessness initiatives and organizations in the community.
For every $3 raised in Chatham-Kent, the company pledged to match it with a $1 donation.
On Tuesday evening, it was announced that a total of $107,992 was raised through the initiative.
According to Maple City Homes General Manager Trevor Mailloux, several companies stepped up and lent their collective support to the challenge.
"It was amazing seeing everyone come together for a common goal,” said Mailloux.
According to a media release from the United Way of Chatham-Kent, homelessness in the municipality has more than doubled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The money raised through the fundraiser will go directly to support various non-profit groups that work to ease the burdens experienced by homeless individuals in Chatham-Kent.
In 2019, Maple City Homes raised $18,000 internally. However, Maple City Homes President and United Way Board Member Robb Nelson said the company decided to reach out to the community in 2020 and stretch the fundraiser even further.
"While Maple City Homes has been relatively unaffected by the pandemic, our team, sub-trades, and suppliers are mindful that this isn’t the case for many others in the community," said Nelson. "As a new home builder experiencing significant growth, we feel a responsibility in supporting our vulnerable and homeless population.”