Do Crew to clean up basement of Halifax homeless shelter

CBC Nova Scotia's Do Crew will be helping clear out Metro Turning Point's basement on Saturday, March 18.

Metro Turning Point is an emergency shelter on Barrington Street in Halifax for men experiencing homelessness, including veterans. The shelter operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Men who stay there are provided a bed to sleep in, an evening snack, and guidance on how to reach out to other organizations that can help with whatever their needs are.

The shelter has 80 beds. Last year, they accommodated an average of 60 men per night.

Unusable donations piling up 

Generous community members have been donating to Metro Turning Point for a long time, but it turns out that many of the items dropped off aren't useful.

Metro Turning Point for example, has given out used shoes and clothing in the past, but due to limited storage space and safety concerns they are changing their policy will no longer accept used clothing. 

There are bags and bags of used clothing in the basement that need to be re-donated as the volume of donations has accumulated faster than the need. 

The Brunswick Street Mission, will still gladly accept used clothing and shoes in good condition.

The Do Crew and its 20 volunteers will move all the unwanted items out of the shelter's basement into a truck that will take them away.

The 20 volunteer positions have filled up for the Do Crew's latest project.