Support Grace Inn Shelter and Give the Gift of Home this Christmas

For many of us, Christmas is a time for celebration. We make and share treasured moments with family and friends by opening our homes to those around us. Yet, there are some people in our community, who do not have a home or the means to celebrate at this time of year.

Through our efforts with Grace Inn Shelter project we are aware that there are nearly 800 homeless people in our region every night with nowhere to go. We want to help change that, and hope you might consider helping those in need over the holiday season.

For the past year, Bel-Con and its principals have been actively involved in the Grace Inn Shelter project, a local initiative to bring a much-needed homeless shelter to our community. We have been focused on the biggest need right now which is planning and fundraising for facility renovations at 315 Church Street in Belleville. 

Once renovations have been completed the emergency shelter will provide temporary housing with 21 beds – 16 for men and five for women – and will operate seven days a week, 365 days a year. The shelter will serve breakfast and dinner and be closed during the day. Volunteers will be needed to keep the facility running until funding becomes available for staff. The initial annual budget for operating Grace Inn Shelter has been estimated at $135,000. This is where you can help.

If you or your organization are seeking a charity to support this season, whether it be a direct donation or through fundraising efforts, will you consider Grace Inn Shelter? Your gift can solve some of the immediate needs for homeless people in our community, and it will also have long term benefits by helping restore dignity to those who have suffered unthinkable losses.

This project is 100% privately funded and all donations stay right here in the local community to help those who don’t have the gift of ‘home’ this Christmas. Donations can be made securely through their website, www.graceinnshelter.com or by contacting Michelle Stephens or Tom Gunsinger directly here at Bel-Con.