Eabametoong First Nation donates $10,000 to Shelter House in Thunder Bay

Eabametoong First Nation has donated $10,000 to the Shelter House in Thunder Bay, Ont.

"It was really quite overwhelming," saidShelter House Executive Director Gary Mack.

He and supervisor Susan Cramp were surprised with the donation when the pair wasinvited to the remote northwesternOntario community in mid-May. Eabametoong is about 350 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

Wanda Sugarhead, manager of the prescription drug abuse program in Eabametoong, helped to coordinate the visit and the donations.

She said she wants the community to develop a partnership with the not-for-profit shelter because of the services they provide for people coming to Thunder Bay from Eabametoong.

Sugarhead said it was "jawdropping" when she realized that they had raised $10,000 in donations.

"We're considered in poverty, but yet the people are so giving," she said.

The donations came from members of the community as well as organizations.

Learning experience

Mack and Cramp travelled to the community with Molly Boyce, a former Eabametoong resident who took part in the managed alcohol program (MAP) at Shelter House.

After her time in the program she went back to her home community to work as a community health representative, according to Mack.

During their visit Mack and Cramp had the chance to meet with chief and council, take part in a radio show and enjoy community feasts, in an effort to learn more about the community and share information about Shelter House services.

Mack says the donation will go towards operating costs, including things like food and programming.