Four of the city’s Urban Barn locations will be matching donations to Kids Kottage, an organization that provides a safe haven for children during times of crisis. Kids Kottage offers temporary overnight care and shelter for children from birth to age 10 while they navigate moments of instability, allowing kids to rest, play and be cared for by a team of crisis intervention experts until they can return home or transition into a permanent arrangement. From Oct. 1 to 31, people can donate a suggested $5 at Urban Barn locations in Edmonton where it will be matched through the Blanket the Country campaign. Mo Habib, a senior associate of philanthropy and partnerships at Kids Kottage, said the organization is looking to expand as their services become more needed. “The average stay is about five nights, but we have everything from one night to some months, depending on the situation,” Habib told CTV News Edmonton. “Last year alone we had 766 children admitted, 40 per cent under the age of three.” Urban Barn’s Blanket the Country campaign matches donations made at their locations and disperses them to 33 different charities throughout the country. Their goal is to raise at least $50,000.
