Main Street Project dealing with losses from Manwin Hotel fire

CTV's Ainsley McPhail learns about how MSP is rallying after loss

Winnipeg’s Main Street Project is continuing to deal with losses and damage caused by a fire at a nearby hotel last week.

The blaze at the Manwin Hotel on Jan. 14 led to water and smoke damage at Main Street Project’s administration building, which also houses its food bank and clothing donation hub.

As of Thursday, staff still did not have access to the building and were temporarily relocated to 609 Main St. Many items, including food and clothing, are a total loss, the organization told CTV News.

“Pretty much all our donated supplies that go out every day, help feed the community, help clothe the community are gone,” said Jamil Mahmood, the organization’s executive director, in an interview with Your Morning Winnipeg. “So that’s a big loss.”

As frigid temperatures blanket Winnipeg and much of Manitoba, Main Street Project has set up a temporary donation location for warm clothing at Siloam Mission.

The charity is also hosting a raffle to support its increased winter response efforts.

“In the winter, there’s a special strain on our services,” said the organization’s marketing and communications specialist Adrita Hasan.

“There are more than 2,000 Winnipeggers living outside this winter, and our emergency shelter is always full. We have two outreach vans working in encampments instead of our regular one.”

More information about the raffle and where the proceeds go can be found online.

• With files from CTV’s Ainsley McPhail