Community Outreach
Collecting with QPID
Our Community Outreach Team runs an annual fall event to support the Kingston Youth Shelter. The shelter has faced a huge increase in demand and overflow for their services but they have also lost major sources of funding this year. This year’s fall event is a clothing drive and requesting gift cards from local businesses to help subsidize some of the operational costs at the shelter.
In the winter semester, QPID hosts Collecting with QPID (CwQ), an annual, week-long campaign focusing on educating the Kingston and Queen’s community on youth homelessness while raising funds for the Kingston Youth Shelter. CwQ aims to take a more holistic and inclusive approach to focus on the community’s needs.
Five Days Rebrand
For the last few years, QPID has been associated with the national campaign, 5 Days for Homelessness. Over the past few years, we have made several adjustments to improve the campaign and diverge from the national campaign guidelines. However, we have realized that the national initiative does not reflect our mandate or guiding principles. After much consideration, we have decided to completely dissolve our partnership with the 5 Days for Homelessness Campaign.
What Is This Campaign?
A campaign aiming to create awareness about homelessness in Canada, and raise funds for the Kingston Youth Shelter. The 5 Days campagin consists of:
Remaining on campus for five days. The campaign begins 5pm local time on the Sunday of the campaign week and ends at 5pm local time on the Friday.
100% of the funds donated to participants are passed on to the Kingston Youth Shelter.
Sleeping outside (voluntary). This is done solely to show our dedication to the 24 hour campaign.
Attend all classes. Participants will complete all academic and extracurricular responsibilities, including student organizations and teaching positions.
When Is It?
During the first week of March at Queen’s University.
What Can You Get Involved?
You can donate to our campaign and support the KYS at https://qpid-5-days-for-homelessness-donation-page-2020.cheddarup.com
For more information about the Kingston Youth Shelter visit their website at: http://www.kingstonyouthshelter.com/.
The Kingston Youth Shelter is open to all youth, both male and female, between the ages of 16 and 24 who are in need of emergency housing. They hold up to 15 youth per night. The shelter offers a safe environment with nutritious food, counselling, support and life skills training. The Kingston Youth Shelter strives to make a difference in the lives of homeless youth by offering a safe and supportive emergency shelter that encourages their growth and provides them with access to community resources.