NEFC founder and executive director Kyle Mason – Photo by Jared Story

By Jared Story, Staff Reporter
The Times

The North End Family Centre has launched a crowdfunding campaign for its relocation/expansion plans.

NEFC founder and executive director Kyle Mason announced on June 24 that the community gathering place aims to raise $35,000 through the crowdsourcing website Indiegogo to help complete renovations at its future 1344 Main St. location. NEFC is currently located down the street at 1322 Main St.

NEFC founder and executive director Kyle Mason announced the community gathering place’s crowdfunding campaign on June 24. The campaign will raise funds to complete renovations at NEFC’s future location.

Formerly the home of Global Massage Therapy, NEFC’s future location offers 3,000 square-feet of space, triple that of its current location.

NEFC has already raised $215,000 through public and private donations, including a $50,000 cheque from Winnipeg realtors Geoff and Regan Archambault.

Mason said NEFC’s current 1,000-square-foot location receives up to 1,400 visits a month, with its clients accessing such things as laundry facilities, hygiene products, computers and internet, fax and photocopy services as well as a community living room.

At its 1344 Main St. location, NEFC would have access to almost 3,000 square-feet in space, which Mason said would allow for the addition of a multi-purpose room, a learning centre and a kitchen.

“It’s a busy bustling place and we’ve truly become the centre of the community,” Mason said. “We are helping people find community, to find a safe place to belong and build networks of support. We’re also there to help families get out and stay out of poverty. We have a very firm belief that what is good for the North End is good for the entire city.”

To sweeten the deal, NEFC is offering perks to those that donate to its Indiegogo campaign. For instance, a $5 donation gets you a tune from The Mariachi Ghost, while $20 gets you a copy of Don Amero’s Refined or Steve Bell’s Pilgrimage albums.

Other perks include a coffee class by Parlour Coffee ($200), an exclusive barbecue with a Winnipeg Jets player ($400), tickets to the 103rd Grey Cup ($700) and a one-of-a-kind painting by Winnipeg artist Christian Worthington ($3,000).

Mason said NEFC plans to open its new location in September. He said a bigger space will enable NEFC to increase its efforts in building a more connected community.

“A lot of people coming to the centre live within a few blocks, so now when you walk these streets, you know your neighbours. They’re not just nameless faces, they’re people you know and care about,” Mason said.

“We honestly believe when neighbours are connected it brings a safer neighbourhood and probably brings down crime.”

To donate to NEFC’s crowdfunding campaign, go to www.northendfamilycentre.org