York community leaders spend night on streets, raise funds for at-risk youth

The 35 participants in the fourth annual 360 Experience raised more than $120,000 for homeless and at-risk youth

Yorkregion.com
March 7, 2017
By Mike Barrett

"There has to be more ... "

Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow emptied the contents of their envelope - two loonies, a pair of bus passes and instructions for he and East Gwillimbury Emergency Services Chief Phil Dawson to make their way to the Salvation Army Youth Shelter in Sutton.

"With two bucks we could split a coffee," he said.

Double-checking their meagre resources, the pair were resigned to begin a journey through York Region on a cold evening.

It was the annual 360 Experience, an event that asks community leaders to spend a night on the streets and raise awareness about homeless youth in York Region.

The March 2 event was also about touching base with the many other agencies that partner with 360 Kids to help protect the vulnerable in York.

After catching a VIVA bus in Richmond Hill, our travellers arrived at the Newmarket terminal just in time to board the next-to-last run to Sutton - a circuitous route, running through Keswick and Jackson's point, before arriving at the shelter in Sutton.

Upon checking-in with staff at the shelter it is suggested the pair make their way around town and find someplace to keep warm for a while.

Their first choice was a local banking ATM atrium - a favoured shelter for many homeless youth - but they quickly discovered not all are open and most homeless persons don't possess banking cards to help gain access.

The pair eventually located an open kiosk, taking refuge from the unseasonably cold temperatures that night.

"It's lonely out there," said Barrow. "It's boring!"

Making their way back to the shelter, the two managed an hour's sleep before heading back to their own lives, jobs, homes, cars and a credit card.

Barrow summed the experience up by saying, "If I had to face that again tonight …. I couldn't do it."

The 35 participants in the fourth annual 360 Experience raised more than $120,000. All funds will go toward programs for homeless and at-risk youth.

For more information, visit 360kids.ca.