Kamloops shelter short on donations as fentanyl crisis increases demand

It's an annual worry for Stan Dueck.

Every year, the executive director of New Life Community Kamloops wonders whether he'll get enough cash donations to keep his organization going, but this year has been a tough one.

"It's been a down year overall. Summer was really quiet for us and so we've been playing catch up ever since," he said.

Dueck says the drop is likely due a number of factors including local charitable contributions goingto support Syrian refugees and people displaced by the Fort McMurray fires.

"Sometimes it's easier to support a cause than something that's kind of in your own backyard and happening every day," he said.

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Fentanylcrisis increasing costs

Another challengehas been the increased cost associated with thefentanylcrisis.

The shelter runs a number of programs in the community including a day program and an overnight shelter. Already this year, they've seen overdoses on site and that requires additional supports.

"It's having the people, having the [naloxone] kits, having theequipmentavailable, but it all costs,no question about it."

Dwight Wilson has been working with New Life CommunityKamloopsfor over 15 years in both a paid and volunteer capacity. He says it's concerning to see the drop in donations because he sees so much demand for the group's services.

"We have to have the money to keep the doors open," said Wilson.

He says there's been an increase in demand on staff and services ever sincefentanylmade its way into the community.

"It's horrible. I've had a run-in like with a couple of people and one who I thought was actually gone and we brought him back."

New Life Community Kamloops costs over $1 million to run on an annual basis. Itrelies on community donations to fund around 40 percent of the group's operations.

The faith-base group has been operating in Kamloops since 1980.

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