Let’s dive into the important work of one of our 2025 HOPE Volleyball SummerFest charities… The Door! Community is at the core of what they do — building spaces where youth can thrive, connect, and receive unconditional support.
The Door has been a safe harbour for youth aged 12 - 18 for the last 31 years. Their clients come from a variety of backgrounds with many being low-income, New Canadians, and coming from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Everyone deserves access to affirming support as they grow up, no matter what their home life may look like. In a time where youth loneliness is on the rise, The Door’s mission is more important than ever.
They have a diverse array of programs including mentorship, life skills workshops, academic support, nightly dinners, and of course fun social activities. The Door is the only youth centre in Centretown West and they have made a difference for thousands of young people over the years.
The Door’s 2024 Impact
- They supported 300 youth members.
- They served 9,000 meals to youth in need.
- They have 100 volunteers who support their mission.
It’s all about the community
A major highlight of their programming is their dinner program AKA family dinner. Every weeknight at 6 PM they serve tasty and delicious meals to their community members. They even have a Multi Cultural Young Chef program! One of their most well attended events is Fun Fridays, where they engage youth with fun group games, social activities, and birthday celebrations. The Door has plenty of programs that encourage skill development such as their life skills workshops and educational programs, but they place a premium on events that encourage connection and FUN.
The Door’s ultimate goal is to empower youth to become caring community members and achieve anything they set their mind to. The social aspects are just as important as life skills for fostering belonging and confidence in youth. Many of their participants have gone on to achieve stable employment, higher education, and become leaders in their communities and they return proudly!
Many of their alumni come back to share their success stories and mentor current community members. Some even become volunteers, board members, or staff. There is something uniquely powerful about hearing success stories from people with similar lived experiences as you. This can help young people feel seen and envision a brighter future for themselves. We’re glad The Door exists.
You can support The Door in this year’s HOPE Volleyball SummerFest event so they can continue making an impressive impact in our community.
