The Downtown Mission in Windsor is putting out an urgent call for bottled water. The mission’s shelter is currently running low and in urgent need of bottled water to help keep people safe, hydrated, and healthy. Executive Director Rukshini Pooniah-Goulin says that during the summer, people are coming to them needing a water break.... “Some people will have some water inside while they’re cooling down or even ask for a bottle to go so when they leave, they have a bottle. Especially during hot days, we’d like to make sure people are staying hydrated even when they’re outside, as much as possible,” she says. According to shelter officials, approximately 150 to 200 individuals are stopping by the mission during the day for a meal or to seek out various supports and programming. Approximately 110 to 120 are also in the shelter beds or the drop-in shelter each night. Pooniah-Goulin says they’ve already had some people donate bottled water during the hot summer days, but they always need more. “People and groups and companies have come through in a big way, as they always do. They’ve dropped off cases that they collect or go purchase and donate to support people in need in our community,” she says. Pooniah-Goulin says this is a community that shows people they can find safety and comfort. “For the people that are coming to the mission, it just shows them that they are not alone, that regardless of what they’re going through, however bad their times might be right now, there is a community around them, behind them, supporting them and loving them,” she says. Donations can be dropped off at the mission’s front door at 875 Ouellette Avenue, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Officials says if you’d like a donation tax receipt provided to you, please bring in a copy of your purchase receipt and provide shelter officials with your name/address/phone number. Financial donations are also accepted.
