Donations to rebuild after fire now do twice as much
Our community is very familiar with the generosity of the Gaynor Family, who have had a hand in so many amazing projects in Selkirk. Now they are helping out once again with a matching donation fund of $100,000 to help Youth for Christ reach their final fundraising goal to rebuild after a fire burned down their building.
“This recent commitment by the Gaynors to do a $100,000 matching campaign gets us to the point where we can put shovels in the ground and not have to worry so much about all the what-ifs. We still have more money to raise, but we’re getting so much closer. Up until now, it’s been a quiet phase of the (fundraising) campaign, but we’re starting to want to share more locally so that we can raise the last piece we need,” said Teresa Galashan, Program Director for Youth for Christ Selkirk.
Youth for Christ is an organization that provides meals, programming and a space for teens. In September of 2024, Selkirk’s Youth for Christ building was devastated by an electrical fire, which made the building unusable. Once the dust settled, the building had to be torn down, and the process to completely rebuild the structure began.
Galashan said that she was overwhelmed by the generosity of the Gaynors when she found out about the donation.
“I was just amazed and encouraged, and it has me really looking forward so much more this year. Knowing that we can start building in February, and God willing, be in by the fall. That will be exactly two years since the fire happened,” she said.
When asked why the Gaynors chose to support this project Eileen Gaynor, representative for the family in Youth for Christ news release, said, “We are looking forward to helping get the shovels in the ground! YFC does so much good for the youth of the community, and the project’s design and passion are inspiring! Mom and Dad’s (Jim and Betty Anne Gaynor) focus has always been (on) supporting the youth. At this point, many of their loyal customers will have passed, but many of these customers’ children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren still live in the community. Supporting these youth is another way our family says thank-you to the community. With YFC’s focus being on the youth of the community, and with all the good they do for these youth, it is an easy project to support.”
The loss of this building has made life difficult for many young people in our community who relied on this building as it was used as a drop-in space and held programming for them in addition to a lunch program that fed kids from École Selkirk Junior High.
Though they did have insurance on the previous building, the group has taken this rebuild as an opportunity to make their new space have even more features that would benefit teens in our community.
“It’ll go from 2300 to 3200 square feet, and that means that we’ll be able to feed 40 kids at lunch program easily and not be crowded, which is incredible. It’ll have a bigger kitchen with more counter space, which means that we can be more organized with where we serve food, and where we process dishes, and where kids sit. And, we’re going to have a shower available for kids who might need it if they’re unhoused. We’re going to have a washer and a dryer,” said Galashan.
Though the fundraising is now well underway, they are still hoping that the community can help donate so that their funds are matched by the Gaynors and Youth for Christ can get over the fundraising finish line.
“We’ve raised almost exactly a million dollars. It’s honestly more than we could have hoped for, as far as timing goes. We’re so thankful, and so things are coming together,” said Galashan.
The total project cost is about $1.8 million, and with what they’ve accumulated so far, they have about $410,00 left to raise.
In the meantime, they haven’t left teens and pre-teens in Selkirk without support, it just looks a little bit different.
“We’re meeting with youth at the (Our Daily Bread) Soup Kitchen for our lunch program Monday to Friday,” said Galashan.
They also have an after-school program on Wednesdays for Grades 6 to 8, and, then on Tuesday nights, from 7 to 9 p.m. they have a program for youth in Grades 9 to 12 below Headstart at 222 Manitoba Avenue.
“We’re just really thankful to the Friendship Centre that we get to continue to use that space. And then this summer, we’ll probably be meeting outdoors in the park,” said Galashan.
Though the program is still going strong, she does look forward to being back in a building of their own, closer to the schools, so that more of the kids can stop by.
“I really just want to be able to provide a home and a safe space for them. One of our youth, she looked at the drawing of what it’s going to look like, and her jaw just kind of dropped, and she said, ‘It looks so nice.’ I said, ‘Yes, I agree.’ And then, she looked at me again and just said, ‘It looks like a home,” she said.
If you would like to donate to this cause and get your donation matched dollar for dollar by the Gaynors, go to yfcwinnipeg.ca/donate and give under “special projects” to the Selkirk Capital fund.
Galashan also wanted to send a message of thanks to both the Gaynors and anyone in the community who donates.
