Shearing Victor's Beard To Raise Money For DTES

So here's what's going on with this fundraiser. I'm a front line worker in the downtown east side in Vancouver BC, Canada. The Downtown Eastside (DTES) is a neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The area, one of the city's oldest, is the site of a complex set of social issues including high levels of drug use, homelessness, mental illness, and sex workers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
The area is hit harder than many places as due to the nature of the lock-down. Many essential services such harm reduction centers such as ops, places to get food, warming centers, and the shelters they desperately need to be able safely isolate. Last week alone there was 8 fatal overdoses in the DTES due to the continued reduced quality in drugs as no new drugs are coming in. In combination with the fact all the hard reduction facilities are closed due to covid-19 its gotten even more dangerous for the people on the downtown Eastside.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
As for me I've been growing this beard for 3 years and it holds a very important attachment to me as it was shaved last when my grandmother passed. It was a difficult time for me so the beard has become somewhat of a anxiety reduction tool for me. Due to the new health and safety protocol is no longer deemed safe for me to continue to grow this beard. It crossed my mind to try to make something positive out of what is honestly a rather anxiety inducing series of events. I suggested the idea to a group of people and it was met with overwhelming support which I did not expect. So today I am here to ask for your support to help those who are in an even worse situation than many others.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
I know money is tight on many as over a million people have been laid off but I ask if you are able to give anything please do and if you aren't able to give please share so that it might reach someone who can. If you would like to donate sleeping bags, clothing, jackets, or anything else besides cash I will include information at a later time for that.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
As for where the donations will end up I have already spoken with someone from ops and I'm trying to get a hold of someone from Carnegie outreach, and In-site to hopefully spread around the funds depending on how. I hope to do the shearing next weekend as this weekend I am busy celebrating my birthday and want to give some time for funds to be raised. The beard will be shaved off no matter how much funds get donated but if we hit a high enough goal I would be willing to even shave my hair off which goes down to the middle of my shoulder blades.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
I also plan to do create a facebook event to invite people to view the live streaming of me likely having a nervous breakdown while my beard is being shaved.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read through this.

Much love, 
Victor