Souls Harbour Rescue Mission expects the new Riverside Mission building to cost $4.5 million, and while it possesses about half that amount, it has launched a fundraising campaign to raise the rest.
The Regina-based non-profit launched a 50/50 raffle on Nov. 12 for the Moose Jaw charity, intending to raise as much money as possible by Friday, Dec. 3. Tickets are one for $20, five for $50, 20 for $100 and 100 for $250.
The draw date is noon on Dec. 3, while the final deadline is 11 a.m. that day. The 50/50 website is www.shrmsk5050.ca.
Souls Harbour merged with Riverside Mission in 2019.
“We need a lot,” said Joe Miller, executive director of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission (SHRM).
The organization has $1 million in cash, while it expects to receive $1 million in provincial funding, leaving about $2.5 million to be raised, he continued. SHRM plans to raise as much money as possible through the 50/50, while it will likely take out a mortgage to fund the rest.
SHRM and Riverside Mission expect to break ground in early 2022 on the latter’s new building, which will be three-storeys, 2,047.5 square metres (22,750 square feet) in size with 24 affordable housing units and six suites for addiction programming.
There will be a 5,000-square-foot food and distribution centre, a new Riverside Mission, a full commercial kitchen, a dining space that converts into an emergency shelter, community offices, and board rooms. Other services will include employment training, high school and post-secondary education, and ministry opportunities.
Miller noted that the non-profit owns the land at 212 and 218 River Street West, the city changed the zoning, the old structures have been demolished, while the environmental reports say the land is safe on which to build.
Meanwhile, Regina-based Westridge Construction will oversee the venue’s construction and SEPW Architecture Inc. will oversee its design, he continued. SHRM chose Westridge because they have a close relationship after the latter constructed the charity’s new venue several years ago.
“Our goal now is to — we’ve given Westridge instruction — try and use as many local trades as we can within the Moose Jaw community and Moose Jaw surrounding area,” he said. “We want to tap into the local trades as best as we can and support the community because the community supports us.”
The Moose Jaw Construction Association has already conducted some fundraising and presented SHRM with a cheque, Miller remarked. In turn, he is working with the association to ensure its members can submit quotes on the project.
If a Regina trades company and a Moose Jaw trades company submit similar bids and the latter bid is slightly higher, Westridge has been told to choose the Moose Jaw bid, he said. This is to ensure solid relationships are built in Canada’s Most Notorious City.
“We’re not looking for one-offs, where someone comes and does part of the project and helps with the building and then disappears. We want an ongoing relationship, whether that’s contributing volunteers or maybe making a financial donation at Christmas or something,” Miller continued.
“Everything we do is driven around relationships … .”
There is no firm timetable for when volunteers can return to Riverside Mission due to the pandemic, even though they are the organization’s backbone and their presence has been missed, added Miller. Right now, vaccinated staff are serving the meals to ensure the venue remains safe for clients.
