Student fundraising in Fort MacMurray recently was for a very good cause, homelessness. National organization Raising the Roof partnered with the Centre of Hope in Fort MacMurray to raise funds and awareness about homelessness. A Toque Tuesday event was held, with toque and sock sales raining money to help homeless in the local and national community. The event also included talking with students at local area schools including Timberlea Public School about homelessness and ways that the students can help with this problem. Centre of Hope fund development coordinator Barbara Rex said “When you look to the future, the children are the future. This gave us … a chance to discuss with the students and it gave them an eye-opening experience. I know a few students that are really excited about supporting the Centre of Hope and they really jumped on board.”

The Fort MacMurray student fundraising event to help with homelessness included several speakers. One of these speakers was Fort MacMurray Mayor Melissa Blake. Students could purchase a toque for the event for $10, or they could wear their own toques and donate $2 for the cause instead. More than $2,500 was raised on Toque Tuesday, and these funds will go a long way towards helping fight homelessness. Rex continued by saying “The Centre of Hope is in the heart of Fort McMurray, it’s downtown, and these schools are up in Timberlea and not really seeing what it is that our patrons are going through. They know now what we do and they know now that it’s an issue that’s facing our community and also our country.”