New fundraiser launched to help people in Downtown Eastside amid pandemic
Posted March 23, 2020 11:02 pm.
Last Updated March 23, 2020 11:03 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — To deal with the COVID-19 outbreak and address the needs of Vancouver’s most vulnerable, a group is hoping to raise money for those living on the Downtown Eastside.
The Downtown Eastside Response Group has started a collective fund with the goal of raising $100,000 to help the 15,000 people who live in the area.
The money would go towards donations of clothing, food and some would be given directly to those who have lost their job due to layoffs.
“The situation is serious, and it is urgent. In a neighbourhood where space, food, supplies, and everything is shared, if we have one infection, it could decimate this entire community,” DTES SRO Collaborative Society’s Wendy Pedersen says. “Living conditions are already dire, and this is only going to get worse if we donate act now.”
The group is also asking for donations of old cellphones, as many living in the area don’t have access to one to stay connected during self-isolation.
If you would like to make a donation, visit DTES Response.
