Novelis volunteers give Kingston Youth Shelter much-needed renovations

For the seventh year running, employees from Novelis have once again volunteered their time to offer hands-on help with United Way projects.

This year, that work will see Kingston Youth Shelter get some much-needed renovations seen to, as Novelis employees install new flooring, as well as replacing bathroom and lighting fixtures. Kingston Youth Shelter provides local youth with a supportive and stable environment, while also providing the tools and life skills needed to help youth escape their immediate or ongoing housing crisis. And thanks to the employees at Novelis, the old, redbrick house on Brock Street that serves the community as Kingston Youth Shelter is getting some of the TLC it needs to continue in that mission.

According to the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A), Novelis employees began offering their services to undertake a wide variety of United Way projects since 2012. These projects take place during the employees’ annual ‘Novelis Neighbor Week’ as part of the company’s global Novelis volunteer month projects.

“We are thrilled to have Novelis support United Way KFL&A once again through the Novelis Neighbor program,” said Bhavana Varma, President and CEO of United Way of KFL&A. “These much-needed renovations will provide youth with a safe and friendly environment. We are so grateful for the ongoing support of local Novelis employees and the amazing work they do each year through this initiative.”

The work on Kingston Youth Shelter began on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, and continues for a full week, with volunteers on site daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Novelis supplies anywhere from 10 to 15 employee volunteers each day, and the company is also supplying an employee to the United Way during the project to help lower administrative costs, according to Novelis Manager John Mills.

Over the seven-day project, the volunteers from Novelis will install laminate flooring over the old, wood floors of the three-floor building, as well as a layer of plywood where the flooring needs extra attention. The volunteers will also replace taps and fixtures in the bathrooms to make them more functional.

“Novelis takes great pride in being a good neighbour and giving back to the communities in which we work and raise our families. We are excited about the opportunity to bring our team together to make a difference in our community,” said Kayla Kent, a Novelis employee and champion of this year’s Novelis Neighbor project. “Knowing the work we do will make a difference in the lives of youth in the months and years to come is a wonderful feeling. We appreciate the partnership with the United Way that enables us to link with community agencies.”

Novelis is the “world leader in rolled aluminum products and recycling, and the largest global producer of automotive and beverage can sheet [aluminum].”

With files from Lucas Mulder.