Shelter House's SOS program gets a boost thanks to Mayor's Mulligan

Shelter House's Street Outreach Service will get a funding boost from a golf tournament this summer.

Thunder Bay, Ont. mayor Keith Hobbs announced Monday that this year'sMayor's Mulligan will support the program which serves the city's homeless by providing them with food and clothing and transporting them to services such as shelters and detox.

"The mayor gets to choose the charity [for the Mulligan]," Hobbs said. "I think, this year, no other program needs it more than this."

The tournament is aiming to raise $25,000 for the service by August,Shelter House saidin a news release.

The SOS program is funded in part by the City of Thunder Bay and the District Social Services Administration Board, but Shelter House has been dipping into reserve funds in order to keep the program going year-round.

The shelter is trying to raiseabout $200,000 to maintain the operation year-round.

So far, it's raised, $59,000, executive director Gary Mack told CBC.

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Hobbs said he's long been a supporter of the programand currently sits on Shelter House's board.

The tournament runs Friday, Aug.25 at the ChapplesGolf Course.

Anyone interested in supporting the cause through sponsorships or donations canemailTom Forsythe, supervisor of golf operations for the city, at tforsythe@thunderbay.ca.