When Gov support is not enough

I recently went for a tour of Toronto's George Herman House. Its a transitional home for women who are recovering from mental health diagnoses. The place is unique because the women are taught life skills by participating in their own self care, by that I mean, they prepare their own meals with nutritious foods and grow their own vegetables and herbs during the summer months.

The building is modest, large and can accommodate ten women with most sharing two to a room. The ladies for the most part have been previously hospitalized but are not quite ready for independent living. The place is a safe refuge and staffers work against the typical "coffee & cigarette culture" often associated with marginalized groups.

Its a place to heal. Its a place where one can see the benefits of compassionate sistering. But its sadly in poor repair.

The building is owned by a government supported franchise and obtained by the George Herman Memorial Fund, forty years ago. Sadly, there never is any money within the budget to keep ahead of basic creature comforts like new linens, freshly painted walls and updated fixtures, so annual funding is always planned.

This year a silent auction of donated items and a Drag Performance is planned at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. For $35 attendees will be able to bid on forty different goods/services, enjoy tunes by DJ Janina Marie and be entertained by QUEENS OF CLUBS Drag Performance by Matteo Cassano's Icons.