Organization/Business: 519Pursuit
Short Bio or Organizational Mission:
Through a friendship-based approach and an empathy-driven outreach program, kindness and understanding are at the frontlines of 519Pursuit’s work. Our foundation is built on meeting community members facing poverty and homelessness right where they are. This kickstarts reintegrating vulnerable members back into a supportive, and inclusive community. Through friendship, we are able to support honest trial and error while walking alongside someone who is wanting to do better for themselves and the community.
Mission: Our mission is to create friendships with a lasting connection and positive impact
Our Vision: An inclusive community where those facing extreme poverty can hit the reset button in order to re-energize, overcome their unique challenges, and reach their full potential
What do you want people to know about how you or your organization is creating change in our community?
We focus on a friendship-based approach supporting individuals facing homelessness and extreme poverty. Our goal is to meet community members where they are and offer support by walking alongside someone in their journey back into housing. We have groups of volunteers in the community doing outreach taking hot meals, care packages, basic needs and survival gear Monday-Friday each week seeing up to 100 friends a day.
We are creating change by offering an innovative way to connect with individuals facing homelessness and extreme poverty. We offer connection and consistency and engage in meaningful conversations about the realities one is facing and how together we may work towards a solution. Connecting to services and shelters across London, our friendship based approach is unique and proving to provide positive change.
What are you working on that you would like to share with the community?: A recent success
This October 1st - November 15th we are launching our 5th Annual 519Pledge For Socks. The 519Pledge is a community initiative that happens from October 1st – November 15th each year. The initiative was brought to light to change the conversation around homelessness leading into the colder months of the year. 519Pursuit encourages folks in the community to take the pledge to obtain 519 pairs of socks to donate. Each individual or team begins a conversation with their friends, families and networks for six weeks to raise awareness of items and solutions that could support those facing homelessness. Throughout the past 4 years we have had successful campaigns by raising over 183,000 pairs of socks. These socks have been donated forward to 50 other community groups, services and shelters over the past 4 years from London – Toronto.
You can participate as a group or as an individual. Access the campaign tool kit when you sign up to run a successful campaign. There is social media posts, printable pictures and support each week to keep your community engaged.
Sign up now to take the 519Pledge at www.519pursuit.ca/pledge *Ensure you click yes to receiving emails so you can get your Campaign Tool Kit*
Please share with us why you are a Pillar Nonprofit Network Member. What have you gained from being a Pillar Member?
Pillar has been at the roots of our growth. Starting as a grassroots organization the support of Pillar has always been close. In 2018 519Pursuit participated in The Incubator Program which helped shape the success that 519Pursuit is today. The 519Pledge For Socks was dreamed and created during the Incubator Program and is now celebrating its 5th year launching. The 519Pledge For Socks has been proven to be an innovative solution to a huge need in the homeless sector and the story continues this year. 183,000 pairs of socks have come from this idea and we can't wait to add 100,000 more.
Contact Name: Allison DeBlaire
Contact Email: allison@519pursuit.ca