(LtoR) Sarah Ingles and Teresa Ingles with The Deker Bauer Foundation For Suicide Prevention ask the city for a grant to launch a drop-in centre. Monday, November 10, 2014 (BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin)(LtoR) Sarah Ingles and Teresa Ingles with The Deker Bauer Foundation For Suicide Prevention ask the city for a grant to launch a drop-in centre. Monday, November 10, 2014 (BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

Funds Sought For Suicide Prevention Drop-In Centre

The Deker Bauer Foundation For Suicide Prevention is seeking $23,000 from the city to help start up a new drop-in centre in Sarnia's south end.

Teresa Ingles made the pitch to city council, in honour of her late 17-year-old son, during Monday's budget input and grants meeting.

Ingles says Deker was taken to hospital in June following a panic attack and told there was an eight month wait to see a child and youth psychiatrist.

She says he committed suicide August 9.

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Ingles says the funds would cover two months of operating costs, including one month of wages.

Ingles has taken on the role of CEO and her daughter-in-law Sarah Ingles is CFO. She says they have an executive assistant and administration assistant.

Ingles hopes to hire a child and youth worker and social worker once a location is secured.

The foundation has already set up a board of directors, taken on volunteers and been incorporated as a non-profit agency.

Ingles says they've applied for Ontario Trillium Foundation funding.

Sarnia Council will make a decision on the grant application during budget deliberations December 9.

More information on the foundation can be found on its Facebook page here.

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