Friday, February 7th, 2025

A fundraising campaign designed to give people a taste of what it’s like to live below the poverty line will benefit Creemore-based Tin Roof Global.

During the Live Below the Line Challenge participants attempt to feed themselves on $1.75 per day for five days. The amount is based on the World Bank’s definition of the extreme poverty line, converted to Canadian dollars and adjusted for inflation, except those living in true poverty would have to pay for all living expenses with the same amount.

The point is to raise awareness about the 1.2 billion people in the world who are living in extreme poverty and raise money for organizations working to raise people out of poverty.

The campaign is an initiative of the Global Poverty Project, an international organization that is working to end extreme poverty by 2030, through advocacy and education.

Tin Roof Global is one of 11 organizations for which people can collect pledges. The organization’s founder and executive director John Millar is participating in the challenge from April 27 to May 1.

Taking up the challenge with Millar is his wife Emily Worts, co-workers Brad Holden and Carli Lang and firefighter Jon Tamlin, along with others who have selected Tin Roof Global as their charity of choice.

“It’s a really good challenge,” said Millar. “It allows you to relate to extreme poverty first hand. You’re not experiencing it but you can relate to it.”

Already, he is thinking about food in a different way, about the value of everything he consumes. Like people living in poverty, he will have to be resourceful in finding ways to eat.

He said he expects to become aware just how food and nutrition affects mood and other elements of daily life.

“You may have a need or a want but can’t adequately satiate it,” said Millar.

Donations to Tin Roof Global will go toward its ongoing mission to provide clean, safe water to those who need it and educate students about the importance of healthy watersheds close to home.

The organization is now working to install its ninth water harvesting system in Uganda. The rainwater collection systems are installed at schools and collect 200,000 to 300,000 litres of water during the country’s two rainy seasons to provide drinking water for the students. Millar said clean water makes for a healthier and more productive learning environment.

Tin Roof Global also works with Canada’s First Nations communities to improve water quality through water science training.   

One in five First Nation communities are under a boil-water advisory, said Millar.

Tin Roof Global also offers water stewardship workshops for students in Grades 7-8, covering wetlands, watersheds and water issues relating to quarries and landfills.

Others are encouraged to participate and donate. Visit www.livebelowtheline.com. To donate, choose Canada, scroll down to ‘all partners’ and then choose Tin Roof Global.

For more information about Tin Roof Global, visit tinroofglobal.com.

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