The East Kootenay Foundation For Health has raised over $200,000 from generous donations as part of the annual Starlite campaign that kicked off in November to support Foundry East Kootenay.
However, there’s more work to be done to reach the $1.4 million goal.
The EKFH and the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Services are announcing a matching donation opportunity, thanks to a generous donor stepping up and offering to match individual donations up to $100,000 between now until Jan. 15.
Foundry East Kootenay will be a walk-in health and wellness centre focused on youth between 12-24 years of age seeking help for mental health and substance use. Services will include primary care, counselling, substance use and peer support, along with social services such as employment and education.
The goal is to centralize those types of services in one location, so that youth don’t have to face wait lists or repeat their story multiple times, or travel out of the region for different types of services.
According to the East Kootenay Foundation for Health
300,000 youth in BC – 1 in 5 - need mental health or substance use services
Of those, as few as 25% receive the care they need
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in Canada
75% of mental illness begins before age 25
Information and contributions to the campaign can be made by donating online, calling 250- 489-6481, or mailing a donation to East Kootenay Foundation for Health, 13 24th Ave N. Cranbrook BC, V1C 3H9.