THUNDER BAY – Repairs will begin as early as this week on a failing roof that threatened to close operations at Community Clothing Assistance, Thunder Bay’s largest clothing bank.
The organization recently secured a final commitment needed to finance the estimated $200,000 needed to replace the roof at its May Street building.
That came thanks to the generosity of several community organizations, and an institutional funder.
For Executive Director Ewa Gulbinowicz, the news came as an incredible relief, knowing the number of people who rely on the charity.
Community Clothing Assistance provides free clothes to an estimated 2,000 local residents in need each year, including through its Undercover Project, which brings necessities to local children each year.
The 14-year-old charity announced the need for support to replace its leaking roof in 2019.
The leaking roof could have forced the organization to shut down operations if not addressed this year, said Executive Director Ewa Gulbinowicz, with water beginning to drop in its used clothing store and endangering electrical systems.
CCA raised around $75,000 through community organizations, while a major institutional funder recently committed the remainder. Gulbinowicz said more details on those supporters would be released in the coming weeks.
