Calgary shelters look for support as heat wave puts city's most vulnerable at risk
CTV
Calgary will see another stretch of hot weather this week, prompting local agencies that assist the city's most vulnerable to ask for help.
Calgary will see another stretch of hot weather this week, prompting local agencies that assist the city's most vulnerable to ask for help.
The extreme heat puts those experiencing homelessness at risk for exhaustion and dehydration.
As such, the Calgary Drop-In Centre is looking to the public for donations to help provide clients with some much-needed relief.
Cindy Ngo, the Drop-In Centre's director of fund development, says a generous donor will be matching financial contributions up to $25,000.
"We’ve been seeing a significant increase in people ordering outreach supplies, so items such as water bottles, summer clothing, cool drinks, electrolytes, sunglasses, bug spray, you name it. Anything that anyone typically would need to stay cool while outside," she said.
Samantha Newborn is one of many who rely on the Calgary Drop-In Centre for shelter and basic needs, and says the extreme heat makes life more challenging.
"We really need some places to cool off, especially being homeless, we need places where we can feel safe and heard like everybody else," she said.
