The London Police Association has opened its wallet to help a local women's shelter deal with an expensive, unexpected sewer problem.
My Sisters' Place was presented with a $10,000 cheque from the association on Friday morning. The money will go a long way to getting the the organization that serves homeless and at-risk women to the $30,000 it needs to repair a sewer line that's currently causing backups.
"This is awesome, so generous, and unexpected," said Christine Sansom, acting CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association Middlesex, which oversees My Sisters' Place.
The sewage problem was discovered over a week ago, shutting down the Dundas St. shelter's bathrooms, showers, and laundry services. It has also hampered its ability to provide cooked meals to the 100 to 150 women who rely on its services each day.
Rick Robson, executive director of the police association, says as soon as they heard about the organization's plight they knew they needed to help.
"It's a natural fit for us because My Sisters' Place works with vulnerable people, females specifically. For us, as police, we work with the vulnerable sector and we recognize whole heartedly that the work that they do very much impacts the work that we do," said Robson.
Each year the association picks one charity or organization to sponsor. It took the association's board of directors only a minute to agree on Thursday that this year the funding should go to My Sisters' Place.
"To have this type of crisis hit them, which is not insignificant, we knew it was going to be a real challenge for them," said Robson. "We are hopeful with this small bit of help that the rest of the community will rally around them and get them through this."
The money from the association charity fund comes directly out of the pockets of London police officers who donate a portion of their salary to the fund. The London Police Services headquarters, which is across the street, has welcomed staff and clients of My Sisters' Place to use their washrooms until their own can be restored. The organization has also received a few food donations as well.
"The community is coming forward and helping us. It's amazing how supportive they have been," said Sansom. "For the women who come here, they have been amazing too because they are advocating for us as well."
A Go Fund Me page has also been established to raise money to cover the cost of the sewer repairs. As of Friday morning and including the police association's donation, it has raised $10,785.
Sansom has also indicated other fundraising efforts are in the works.