Opioid Response Hub Reaches Fundraising Goal of $160,000 For Renovations

The community came through for Fourcast and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough as they reached their Light the Way campaign goal of $160,000 for renovations of their opioid response hub announced on Tuesday.

(left to right) Ron Black, Forecast vice chair; Kerri Kightley, program manager and Jennifer DeBues, Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough executive director

The campaign was funded from community donations that launched on Sept. 15. The hub is located at the former Greyhound Bus Station at 220 Simcoe St.

“In just a few months, we received over one hundred donations from individuals, half a dozen from local businesses, a few from churches and professional associations, a grant from the City of Peterborough, plus contributions from four endowed funds held at the Community Foundation,” said Jennifer DeBues, Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough executive director. “The campaign to Light the Way to $160K really has been a community effort and I am grateful to everyone who has contributed.”

The hub’s renovations will better prepare the space to provide the wraparound health services and supports offered by Fourcast along with partner organizations according to Fourcast. This includes PARN, the 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (NPLC), Peterborough County Paramedics and the Mobile Support Overdose Resource Team (MSORT).

“Fourcast acknowledges the success of the Light The Way fundraising campaign as an overwhelming outpouring of support from a compassionate community that wants to mobilize all efforts to end the loss of life associated with opiate poisonings,” says Donna Rogers, Fourcast executive director. “We have a space that is turnkey for the operation of a CTS, and we await a long-overdue response to our application.”

The hub is expecting to open in January as it waits to pass inspections before construction within the month. Fundraising efforts will continue until it is officially open. The extra money will be used to fund several hub programs and a drive-thru window according to Kerri Kightley, program manager.

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