Yard sale pay dirt

Saturday we hit the Owen Sound Animal Shelter's Yard Sale...hard. Three trips! The first was a great 'haul' for domestic purposes. The second was a return to pick up something we should have gotten the first time around but didn't. When we arrived the second time it was $5.00 per bag and they gave us a garbage bag! So we filled it with small appliances and extra plates for the United Way Centre as well as more stuff for home.

The third trip I sent my volunteer over (we were working on drywall stuff around the building), I was busy and I asked him to drop by and pick up a crock pot that I hadn't been able to fit into the bag.

I should clarify by the second trip we were down in cash hence the need to leave and come back for the third trip.

The irony of the shelter isn't lost on me. Here we have wonderful people, fully qualified, and yes you can get a college diploma in 'animal shelter management', looking after the abandoned, the abused and the homeless critters of our community. They also take in surrenders for people who can no longer keep their pet.

Yet what does our community have for the human homeless? What qualifications did we demand when we had a homeless shelter?

The contrast is ironic.

But hope is on the horizon, at least I hope it's hope. This was on this mornings news and I copied it from the Bayshore Broadcasting News website

Emergency shelters review
Written by Jody Johnson

Grey County is looking at the need for emergency shelters.

West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles says the county has contracted Ken Thomson to research and prepare a recommendation on the emergency shelters issue in Grey County.

Eccles says Thomson has been involved in the non-profit sector and has a number of contacts that he can draw from.

Eccles says the county is hoping to be able to access some funding for the initative.

He says there is some funding available through the federal government rural infrastructure to address homelessness.

Eccles says there is pressure for emergency shelters since the closure of the Salvation Army hostel in Owen Sound.

He says there is an obligation for the county to provide options for replacing the hostel beds.

Eccles says the shelters will be predominately in urban areas, where there is the greatest need for them.