Robert Godick leaves $50K to Thunder Bay's Shelter House

For the second time in two days, Shelter House in Thunder Bay has received a significant contribution.

The family of the late Robert Godick presented $50,000 to the shelter Thursday afternoon.

Godick had requested the money be given when he died. He recently passed away from a heart attack at the age of 43.

His sister Jennifer said she doesn't know why he chose Shelter House, but she's glad he did.

It's such a huge boost to our ability to meet those targets.- Shelter House executive director Patty Hajdu

“Oh, it's really good, I'm really proud of my brother and very happy to say that I'm his sister,” she said.

“And, although he has passed away, he's still going to be in the lives of other people, helping them live. And he's going to help the city of Thunder Bay and Shelter House.”

Shelter House executive director Patty Hajdu said the money will go to a reserve fund the shelter is required to maintain.

"We have to do actively do a number of fundraising items, as well as constantly solicit donations,” she said.

“So when we receive a bequeathment like this, it's such a huge boost to our ability to meet those targets."

On Wednesday, Shelter House received $20,000 worth of new mattresses from the Rotary club.

Hajdu noted the reserve fund is needed in case other funding sources are delayed or cancelled. The fund allows programs to operate while Shelter House figures out what to do next.

Hajdu said things like the street outreach program and the managed alcohol program could benefit from that reserve in the future.

Godick’s sister speculated he may have been witness to the services shelter house provides.

"The time that we made our wills, my brother was around here a lot, [as] our mother was in Versa-care … so he was around this vicinity,” she said.

“So I think maybe that influenced him."

Robert Godick's nephew and nieces presented the cheque to Shelter House.