The owner of My HOME Apparel has seen firsthand how quickly things can spiral out of control for a person and wanted something that spoke to her.
"A lot of the people that are forgotten or neglected are the homeless," said Kearney. Everything Shelter Nova Scotia is about - helping those to make sure no one slips through the cracks - resonated with her."
It was joining up with Shelter Nova Scotia where Kearney learned about the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness's 20,000 Homes campaign.
"They put a big push on housing first, where they will help people get homes first and then address their problems," said Kearney. "That's a theory I really believe in. When someone loses their home, I know how much that really impacts a person. It can be a breaking point."
Since My Home Apparel launched as its own brand in July, Kearney has been donating five per cent of profits to homelessness initiatives across Canada. So far, $1,500 has been donated, but she's not stopping there.
On Feb. 6, Kearney is hosting a sale from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sea Shell Design on Inglis Place where all profits will go to the company's team in the Coldest Night of the Year event, in support of the Truro Homeless Outreach Society. Anyone can join the company's team, and those raising $200 will be given a free HOME t-shirt.
"The Truro event does a fantastic job and we really hope it becomes something that grows every year," she said.
This year's walk is Feb. 20, beginning at the Truro Farmers' Market. Last year, the Truro event raised close to $80,000, putting the local event among the Top 10 across Canada.
Along with homelessness, My Home Apparel has launched a new "Welcome to Canada" line in response to the refugee crisis and those coming to Canada. For each shirt sold, $2 will go to refugee services, and some shirts are also being donated to incoming refugees.
"With watching everything in the news and on social media, it took my breath away, hearing the negativity," she said. "We need to take a step back and realize how blessed we are. We really are citizens of the world and we need to give back to the refugee crisis."
For more information on the My Home Apparel lines, as well as where to purchase in person, visit http://www.myhomeapparel.com/. In Truro, shoppers can visit Sea Shell Design for the largest selection.
Twitter: @TDNRaissa
