A new deli in downtown Windsor aims to help people get back into the workforce.
The 'Do Good Deli' found at 875 Ouellette Ave. had its grand opening on Monday morning.
It's owned by the Downtown Mission and Executive Director Ron Dunn says the program gives people a job at the deli for 40 days before job interviews are lined up elsewhere.
Dunn says they're looking to help whoever needs it.
"Anybody we would consider to have a barrier to employment, whether they're new to the country, so English as a second language might be an issue — maybe they just haven't worked in a long time. Some of the people in the program have been homeless, some haven't," says Dunn.
Ground Effects owner Jim Scott attends the grand opening of the Downtown Mission's Do Good Deli at 875 Ouellette Ave. in Windsor on March 20, 2017. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Owner of Ground Effects Jim Scott sponsored the build of the deli and says the place needed a major overhaul when the Mission bought it in April.
"It was a disaster. When I walked in here today I'm like, 'Is this the same room?'" says Scott. "It was just dingy. It hadn't been updated for it seemed like 40 or 50 years."
Scott brought his total donation to the Downtown Mission to over $100,000 with a $15,000 cheque presented at the ribbon cutting today.
"I just keep thinking about people that don't have a place to go, don't have a home and don't have an apartment and mabye their family is split and kids are on the street — it just breaks my heart. If we can play a little role in helping that, then that's what it's all about."
Dunn describes the deli as a "for-profit social initiative" and is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 3pm.