(Ross Street Ice Cream Co.)

By Alessia Proietti

"Cold Treats for Warm Feets"

Ice cream fundraiser for program helping vulnerable women this Saturday in Red Deer

Sep 16, 2022 | 1:09 PM

The cooling temperatures are not the end of fun gatherings in Red Deer and the new “Cold Treats for Warm Feets” fundraiser is proving just that this Saturday.

On September 17 from 12 – 5 p.m., the Ross Street Ice Cream Co. (4924 50 St.) is holding a fundraiser for the Morning Star Program (5104 48 Ave.), helping vulnerable women in Red Deer and surrounding communities.

Part of Catholic Social Services, Jill Lanz, Service Coordinator for Morning Star, says the program, which is entirely run off donations, has served over 300 women since it began in June 2019, helping roughly 40-50 women per month.

With their drop-in centre having opened in November that same year, the program provides:

• A safe place for women to get off the streets
• Use laundry and shower facilities
• Help accessing outreach, support, mental and physical health services
• Snacks, coffee, personal care and hygiene products
• Referrals to doctors, lawyers, counsellors, housing and financial supports
• Attending appointments, assisting with applications and paperwork, and more

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“The biggest impact is just giving women a safe space to go where they can be off the streets and out of harm’s way and have the resources to enhance or improve their lives,” said Michael Ubbing, co-owner and operator of the Taco Loft and Ross Street Patio Ice Cream Co.

With colder temperatures creeping up and the ice cream season coming to an end, Ubbing says he thought the fundraiser would be a great way to get rid of the last few pints of frozen treats while simultaneously helping the community.

The event will include live performances on the Ross Street Patio, $2 minimum donations for an ice cream cone with all proceeds going to the Morning Star Program, a women’s clothing drive and a silent auction.

(Ross Street Ice Cream Co.)

Ubbing says they have already received women’s winter clothing and snack donations including granola bars and ramen noodles.

But the most inspiring donation, the organizers say, is the amount of items brought in for the silent auction.

While Ubbing says he expected roughly 15 donations, they are currently sitting at 37 items; 38 after one donation was made during his conversation with rdnewsNOW.

“The biggest thing for us [Morning Star] right now is we’re just very overwhelmed with the support from the community, even leading up to this event. We were setting up the silent auction items yesterday and all of them are from locally owned businesses and many of them are from downtown businesses,” said Lanz.

Ubbing confirms some of those donations come from local breweries and tattoo shop artists.

Organizers state the downtown community has voiced the sentiment that the program has helped the vulnerable populations in the area.

“That’s what we have been told several times including by other agencies, and by RCMP as well, is that there is a noticeable difference,” said Lanz.

“The vast majority of women that we serve are currently experiencing homelessness so the downtown region looks a little different when a lot of the women have somewhere to be.”