Events Guide: Sock-Hop Benefit Show for Out of the Cold Shelter

HALIFAX – As winter hits Nova Scotia each year, the Out of the Cold Shelter (OTCS) fills up quickly with people who have and had no other options of where to spend the night. The OTCS is close to finishing its third year of operation, running annually 6 months of the year from November through to April, on in-kind support, volunteers, individual donations and small community grants.

However, OTCS reports on their website that “We are regularly turning people away at the door and there are often no other beds available at other shelters, especially for men and youth. The housing crisis in Nova Scotia has worsened into a shelter crisis as well.”

While the shelter has 15 beds, they continually report that this amount of accommodation is inadequate in actually serving the need and that like other shelters in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), they are often forced to turn people away, once they have reached shelter capacity. Recognizing the challenge with this, the OTCS, among other shelters, are in conversation with the NS Department of Community Services to figure out better short-term and long-term solutions to the HRM homelessness crisis.

So… be part of sustaining OTCS in its operations,  by joining shelter staff, volunteers, supporters, friends and the general public for a heart-pumping and fun Sock-Hop Benefit show at The Cunard Centre in downtown Halifax, NS, this Saturday, April 16th, 2011. The event is advertised as “a swell evening of rockin’ good tunes and fun times! Musical performances! Door Prizes! Dancing!” This sounds like a social event not to be missed.

WHAT: Sock-Hop Benefit Show for Out of the Cold Shelter
WHEN: Saturday, April 16th, 2011. Doors open at 6:30pm – midnight
WHERE: The Cunard Centre, 961 Marginal Road (Shed 23)
HOW MUCH: $10 ($5 for shelter volunteers). Bring a donation of men’s undies, jammies, or sweatpants and get $5 off the price of admission!

OTCS also accepts financial contributions and/or donations of Tim Horton’s Gift Cards throughout the year. Donations can be made with the paypal button on the website or mailed to or dropped off to Saint Matthew’s United Church (1479 Barrington St) between 8am-12:30pm, Monday through Friday. Please make cheques payable to “Saint Matthew’s United Church” with a note that the donation is for the Shelter Fund. All monetary donations will receive a charitable tax receipt.

For more information on donating or even volunteering, contact halifaxwintershelter@gmail.com, (902) 225-0770.

Photo by Aoife, member of Spacing Magazine’s flickr pool