Beach music store to donate proceeds from mask sales to local community housing organization

Erin Horrocks-Pope July 23, 2020

Scarboro Music, located at 1051 Kingston Rd., has been a staple in the Beach community since 1972.

Last week, Scarboro Music launched a fundraising campaign in which the profits from selling music-themed face masks will go to a local community housing organization.

Josh Dielman, the sales and marketing manager at Scarboro Music and a Beach resident, believes that supporting local initiatives and organizations is more vital now than ever before.

“These are hard times still,” Dielman said to Beach Beat. “It’s important to support the community when you can. We can, so we will.”

Josh Dielman (left) and studio manager Sydney Riggs (right), wearing the music-themed masks sold at Scarboro Music. Photo submitted by Josh Dielman.

The masks, which are Canadian made, are available in two designs, three sizes and are equipped with adjustable ear loops and filter pouches.

All the profits from each mask sold will be donated to Houses Opening Today Toronto Inc. (HOTT), a non-profit housing organization primarily operating out of Toronto’s East End.

In a statement from HOTT to Beach Beat, the organization outlined how community donations contribute to benefiting residents.

HOTT provides housing for individuals and families coming directly from homelessness, often requiring high levels of support to transition into housing.

“Community donations contribute to HOTT in a variety of ways. One of the key ways that donations benefit our residents is by helping us to provide furniture and other household belongings to new residents who have come directly from homelessness. These individuals or families often require a high level of support to transition into their housing. Community donations also contribute to our ability to improve our resident programs. For example, in response to COVID-19 donations from our community have allowed us to increase the capacity of our food relief program. As a result, we have been able to provide some level of food security to all of our HOTT residents with a focus on our most vulnerable. Healthy communities are integral to our model. Donations from members of our community help us to develop those relationships and successfully pursue our mission for quality and affordable housing.”

Houses Opening Today Toronto

If you are interested in supporting HOTT:

Click Here to purchase a mask from Scarboro Music online

Click Here to donate to HOTT directly