In a time where the uber rich seem more intent on counting their billions at the expense of their employees and most everyone else, it is heartening to see the actions of the likes of Peter and Cathy Quiring.
And they are just what Chatham-Kent needs.
Instead of counting their coins and flaunting their wealth a la Scrooge McDuck and the U.S. tech oligarchs, the Quirings, through their foundation, seek to help the downtrodden.
They’re based in Leamington but have extended their philanthropic outreach into Chatham at the former St. Agnes Church. The foundation recently opened the Chatham Community Hope Centre at the Croydon Street location.
The centre is designed to aid local citizens who are living in the grey – lost in addiction and homelessness.
“The Hope Centre’s work is built around supporting the whole person through four key pillars – physical, mental, social and spiritual,” the centre’s project manager, Spencer Dawson said. “We are offering a safe welcoming space for people to come as they are.”
The Chatham Community Hope Centre is not the Quiring Foundation’s only philanthropic endeavour. The farming family’s foundation also runs nearly 120 support beds in Windsor-Essex.
The hope centre in Chatham seems to be the first step for the foundation in helping citizens of Chatham-Kent as well. Representatives of the foundation were to address council on Monday night over the potential to operate residential services at 110 Sandys St., which the municipality owns.
Help for those in need can come from many directions, and these days, all directions are needed to address the burgeoning addiction/mental health/homelessness situation that is plaguing communities around the province and country.
That’s why efforts from philanthropists Peter and Cathy Quiring are so welcome. Senior levels of government are dithering over how to help municipalities deal with the grim reality of homelessness. City, town and municipal councils can’t go it alone.
So, to the Quirings, thank you. Thank you for bringing your foundation and its supports to Chatham-Kent; thank you for being people of wealth being so willing to use some of your resources to help others.
Meanwhile, with Elon Musk flirting with trillionaire status, and Venice still recovering from Jeff Bezos’ $50 million wedding, plus with Mark Zuckerberg’s social media operations continuing to suck up cash and allow people to spew out lies and hatred, we challenge those who can to please do more to help others.
