GUELPH – Until Dec. 31, Linamar Corporation will match donations to The Grove Hubs for its end-of-year holiday campaign.
Throughout the course of the year, The Grove saw upwards of 32,000 youth visits across its sites.
“It was a busy year at The Grove Hubs,” stated executive director Jeff Hoffman in a Dec. 13 news release.
“We continue to see youth in need of our services and as we strive to keep up with the overwhelming demand in our region.
“Donations made to The Grove ensure we are able to continue the work we are doing in our community and help us grow our services to support the young people we see in our spaces.”
This is Linamar’s third year matching donations for the campaign.
President and COO Jim Jarrell told the Advertiser Linamar supports The Grove because “more than ever, youth mental health needs the support.”
Make a difference
The Grove’s website shares a breakdown of how different donation amounts can make a difference:
- $25 helps support employment and career counselling group workshops;
- $50 buys snacks for the next 15 youth that drop in;
- $150 provides wifi for young people;
- $200 provides cooking and music lessons, and art therapy;
- $300 provides addiction counselling;
- $1,000 provides counselling appointments;
- $1,500 funds suicide prevention training; and
- $2,500 funds an entire day at The Grove for a youth.
Hoffman told the Advertiser roughly 75 per cent of The Grove’s operating funding comes from philanthropic donations.
“That’s how this whole thing started,” he said.
When the idea of The Grove took off, the Rotary Club of Guelph had volunteers rally the communities in Guelph and Wellington County.
“Then the community stepped up and not only said ‘yes, we need this,’ but said ‘here is how I can help’ [and gave] financial contribution,” said Hoffman.
He noted demand for mental health services has increased by at least 40% since the pandemic, adding:
- one in five youth have harmed themselves in the past year;
- there was a 68% increase in the number of youths who reported struggling with eating disorders; and
- issues that lead to psychological distress increased by 35%.
“This is where we come in at The Grove,” Hoffman stated.
“If a young person needs support today … they will get support today.”
To learn more visit thegrovehubs.ca/give.
