On Tuesday, February 7^th, buy a toque and help homeless youth in Ottawa. Toque Tuesday is part of Raising the Roof’s National Toque Campaign. Raising the Roof is a national charity whose mission is to bring about long-term solutions to homelessness in Canada. The Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa’s Charitable Foundation, one of its many member agencies, is taking part in the 2012 National Toque Campaign.

For the last 50 years, the Youth Services Bureau (YSB) has been an important resource in Ottawa, providing many services to youth ages 12 and over. It has established itself as a trusted expert in several key areas, including homelessness, housing, mental health, youth justice, employment, health, diversity, and youth engagement. The organisation has 350 caring professionals working in over 20 sites across the Ottawa area. YSB provides crucial services to youth at various points in their lives: from living on the streets and needing a warm bed at night to helping them become healthy, happy young people. On average, between 2,500 and 3,000 youth take advantage of YSB services each month.

Proceeds from Toque Tuesday go directly towards supporting YSB's housing services.

For the past two years, the Youth Services Bureau Charitable Foundation has been involved in Toque Tuesday. Proceeds from Toque Tuesday go directly towards supporting YSB’s housing services, helping homeless youth in the Ottawa area.

“Homelessness is a real issue; there are an estimated 65,000 homeless young people in Canada,” says Janice Barresi, Executive Director of the YSB Charitable Foundation. “Toque Tuesday is a great opportunity to have a direct impact on these young people who are struggling and need our help.”

Last year, the YSB Charitable Foundation sold 3,100 toques. This year, their goal is to sell 4,000 toques. Toques are sold for $10, with $8 going directly to YSB’s housing program. Toques are on sale now and will be on sale until the stocks run out. The toques are very warm, which is perfect for the harsh Ottawa winters. They also make great gifts.

There are endless reasons to buy a toque!

Why buy a toque?

1 toque will provide one youth with 3 nutritious supper meals.

10 toques will provide a supper and groceries for 24 youth in a shelter for one day.

1 box of toques will help 16 youth purchase a monthly bus pass to go to school or work.

2 boxes of toques will sponsor one year’s worth of basic need supplies to a young person living in YSB’s emergency youth shelters, including daily meals, groceries, toiletries, and additional counselling support. 

So far, the Foundation has received positive responses to their campaign.  More volunteers are involved this year than ever before. Many workplaces are getting involved, including Bell and Intact Financial Corporation. Not only are they selling toques in their workplaces, they will be outside on February 7^th selling them in the streets of Ottawa.

Raising the Roof is a national charity whose mission is to bring about long-term solutions to homelessness. ©Dwayne Brown Photography

Past campaign sales from Raising the Roof have collected $3.3 million in donations to 145 local community organizations in Canada that support homeless youth. The goal for the 2012 Raising the Roof campaign is 50,000 toques across Canada.

Here are your options to purchase a toque:

• - Purchase online from the Raising the Roof website.
• - Stop by the YSB office from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday at 2675 Queensview Dr. in Ottawa.
• - Watch for volunteers at OC Transpo Hurdman Station, City Hall, Place Bell and Constitution Square Place Bell and Rideau Centre, who will be selling the toques from 7:30 – 9:00 am on February 7^th.

So buy a toque, help homeless youth in Ottawa. Spread the word and wear your toque proudly!