Home Depot’s Orange Door fundraiser will go to local McMan organization

By Jeremy Appel on December 2, 2017.

Tracy Tanghe and Britni Chambers of McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association were at the Hat's Home Depot Thursday to kick off its Orange Door campaign to raise money for youth anti-homelessness initiatives.--NEWS PHOTO JEREMY APPEL

jappel@medicinehatnews.com @MHNJeremyAppel

The Home Depot Canada Foundation is teaming up with the McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association for its Orange Door fundraiser.

Shoppers at Home Depot this holiday season will be asked if they want to donate $2 to McMan upon checkout.

“Specifically, the funds towards this one will go towards Youthopia, our apartment building … to support youth in our community who would be homeless or otherwise couch surfing,” said Britni Chambers, youth program supervisor for McMan.

Tracy Tanghe, program manager at McMan, said the funds will also go toward the McMan Youth Hub, which “supports any youth experiencing homelessness or any barriers.”

She said Home Depot has been a longtime supporter of McMan’s various anti-homelessness initiatives.

“They’ve always supported us any way we needed, with donations (and) materials,” said Tanghe. “They’ve just really stepped up.”

Although they don’t have expectations for a specific amount of donations, McMan has seen an increase in youth homelessness this year.

“Typically, we do it in the spring,” said Chambers. “This time it’s kind of nice (that) we’re doing it during the Christmas season, when people are typically looking for opportunities to give back to the community.

“Hopefully it will be well received that way too.”

The symbolism of the titular orange door is important.

“Door being (a) house, a home, a place to live and call your own,” Chambers said.