Calgary organization that helps homeless youth hoping to raise $20K

A Calgary organization that helps young people facing poverty and life on the street is hosting an extravaganza to help pay for programming and equipment.

A Calgary organization that helps homeless youth is hoping to raise $20,000 through an event featuring entertainers and artists.

The Doorway is hosting its second annual ‘Extravaganza’ on Thursday, May 29.

“We’re going to have six artists playing; we have a poet, and our host is a comedian,” said Marianela Damen, development specialist at The Doorway.

“We have live art being made by Dean Stanton and that will be auctioned off at the event.”

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The organization got its start in 1989 and since then has helped hundreds of young people between 17 and 30 set and achieve goals to help get them off the streets.

Damen says money raised at the event will go towards things like paying for programs and equipment for the 84 current participants.

“We’re only a team of six people, most of which work part-time, so every fundraiser we do is significant in ensuring that we’re able to cover our costs and encourage more participation from more participants in our program,” she said.

“All funds raised from the extravaganza will also be matched by Birdies for Kids, which is an amazing program as well.”

Floyd Visser, The Doorway’s executive director, knows of many stories where the participants have turned their lives around and are attending university, with one working on her master’s degree in social work.

“This is not a drop-in space; this is a business space. This is where we provide you a safe and comfortable environment to just think,” he said.

“We emphasize that we’re only here for you and we’re not going to judge you for what you say or for what you think or for what’s happened in the past, and we’re just here to help you think through your life.”

Visser says The Doorway is set up like a welcoming office space where much thought has gone into the décor, artwork and even the background music choices.

Food is also provided, along with clothing and hygiene items, for those in need. Visser says part of the process of getting off the streets for participants is to make sure they’re not hungry and feel comfortable in a work environment.

“The idea was empowering that young person to develop their own goals to work their way off the street,” he said.

“And thereby they’re the experts of their destiny and probably will have greater success in terms of actually working their way off the streets and into something that they want to do.”

William MacPhail, 21, says he had a rough childhood, left home at 14 years old and was addicted to drugs and alcohol. He moved to Calgary in 2022 and stayed at the Drop-In Centre for six months, where he heard about The Doorway from another youth staying there.

“I remember when I first came here I was like, ‘Wow, this place is so clean and this is exactly like an office,’” he said. “So, I’m looking around and I feel like I don’t belong here, but everybody’s making me feel so comfortable here; it’s just a very welcoming and very warm feeling.”

MacPhail’s initial goals were to cut down on drugs and alcohol and after succeeding, he’s been employed and soon wants to start his own business.

“I want to be a mortgage broker and an insurance broker,” he said. “So right now I’m just working on my mental health a little bit and then I’m going to get back into school.”

Learn more about The Doorway and its Extravaganza here: The Doorway Extravaganza – Canadahelps.