Displaced by Inn of Waterloo fire, HopeSpring looks for new home
HopeSpring has been serving over 1 million people during the pandemic in Southern Ontario
Organizers with the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre are in the midst of finding a new home after being uprooted by the same fire that displaced a men's shelter at the Inn of Waterloo.
Shawn Hlowatzki, president of HopeSpring's board of directors, told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo he only learned about the fire several hours after it happened Tuesday evening.
"I just showed up and grabbed what I could knowing that people who were having their surgeries that same week would still get their camisoles, that they still could get their wigs," he said.
The centre helps cancer patients with appropriate wardrobe, wigs and counselling as they prepare for and undergo treatment.
Smoke damage
Throughout the pandemic, HopeSpring has been serving a catchment area of over a million people across Waterloo region, Wellington county and even communities in Bruce and Grey counties, according to Hlowatski.
Staff normally hand deliver care packages and wigs, masks and camisoles for breast cancer patients.
Although nothing was destroyed in the fire, Hlowatzki said they are now dealing with dozens of items that may have been damaged by smoke.
"Knowing that our members, who are requesting items from us, are generally going through chemo and radiation, we have to be very, very careful that we are are not providing an item that has smoke damage or could cause any health issue," he explained.
He says they are working with professionals to asses the damage in hope of salvaging items.
Looking for new home
Hlowatzki said as the organization moves forward, they are looking for alternative space. The Inn of Waterloo was used for administration, some in-person services and storage.
"If a business, company or someone has space that could potentially be available in the future, HopeSpring is very open to all of those things, including building community partner relationships," he said.
He adds that the Inn of Waterloo has offered alternative space in their building, which is under consideration.
Hlowatzki said as the province begins to re-allow in-person services to clients, "We will be one of the last to do that because of the immune compromisation of our members."
"We have to be very, very safe and virtual is such a big part of what the future will look like, so HopeSpring is exploring where we will be."
The best way people can support HopeSpring right now is through financial donations, Hlowatzki says, as the organization does not receive financial funding from any level of government.
With files from Jackie Sharkey