The Y Women’s Emergency Shelter helps women and children escape violent and abusive situations and aids in transitioning them to a new phase of life. Support from the KTW Christmas Cheer Fund makes a big difference for the centre. To date this year, the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter has supported 52 families and 63 women without children — feeding, housing, clothing and providing support for them. Having worked with the women’s emergency shelter for the past 18 years, Jacquie Brand recently assumed her new role as general manager. “It has been an interesting year,” Brand said. “Just like for everybody else around the world.” She credits her hard-working colleagues for the shelter’s efforts over the past year to help so many people in need. “As much as the women and children we work with are resilient, so are the staff,” Brand said. “We’re really lucky to have some amazing individuals that are present for the women, who are dedicated to the work and the kids.” In March of 2020, when the pandemic first started, the women’s shelter was offered expansion sites, Brand said, which meant they could house children and families in the event they had COVID-19. “It was amazing that we actually had another site where we could put families in and be able to still support the 23 people that we’re funded for,” Brand said. Since then, the additional expansion site has helped to provide housing when the shelter is at full capacity. Brand said money received through this year’s KTW Christmas Cheer Fund will go toward meeting specific needs of families being helped. It will provide items such as gift cards, medications for allergies or sensitive diets, baby formula and crafts and games for the kids. The organization is also hoping to purchase a few new beds and, at some point, will need a new industrial-size dryer. Brand said the community has been always been phenomenal in its response to need. “You always are concerned when there are things that happen, like floods and fires and how that’s going to affect the most vulnerable,” Brand said. “Our community, they never even miss a step. They just keep on giving, seeing how much more they can do. Christmas Cheer, I just really like the name because it gives cheer all year long. Not to be too cheesy, but it really does.” Brand said money from the Cheer Fund is what helps non-profits keep going throughout the year. “And it sometimes can make or break them,” Brand said. For more information on the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter, go online to kamloopsy.org.
Here’s how to help a great cause
Charities being supported this year: Y Women’s Emergency Shelter, Kamloops Brain Injury Association, Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism and Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association. To donate, go online to bcicf.ca/kamloops-this-week-christmas-cheer-fund. Donations are accepted online thanks to a partnership with the BC Interior Foundation.
Donations can also be dropped off at the KTW office, at 1365B Dalhousie Dr. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Cheques should be made out to the BC Interior Community Foundation.
THANK YOU, DONORS!
VW Turtle Race: $11,000
Tim Shoults: $50
Greg Harris: $25
Nel Sarrasin: $50
Ron & Susan Durant: $100
Dianne Jackson: $50
Anna Evenrude: $50
Willa Dale: $50
Anonymous: 100
John & Val Kemp: $100
Cal & Pat Moulton: $100
Darren, Sharlene & Kyle McIlwain: $158
Anonymous: 50
Darla Flett, in memory of Cheroo Beanut: $50
Anonymous: $100
Kathy Kendall: $200
Gerald & Wendy Patrick, in memory of Kelly Patrick: $100
Jo-Mary & Bob Hunter: $200
Susan Peachey: $50
Gwen Mackinder, in memory of friend Sophia: $50
Sharon Langland, in memory of Sharon & David Frampton: $100
Kamloops Old Time Fiddlers: $100
Bryan White: $100
Vic & Sally Mowbray: $100
Anonymous: $200
Rachel Andrews: 50
Ken & Marylyne House: $100
Simone Werstiuk, in memory of Carmen Werstiuk: $100
Lynne Totten: $100
Don & Debby Erickson: $100
Gary Miller: $100
Brian & Kathy Andriashyk, in memory of Verna Wasylnka: $100
M&W Bronken: $100
Johanna Walters: $25
Rick Bennett: $25
Anna Barton: $50
Lois McAlary, in memory of Sarah McAlary: $150
Sandie & Louise, in memory of Mom, Ross & Carole: $100
Lovely Ladies of the Lake: $200
Wayne & Twink Murphy: $50
Bea Smith: $50
Terry & Doreen Monson: $100
Linda Jackson, in memory of George Wilmot: $100
Norm & Susan McGowan, in memory of Jack Buckham: $100
In memory of Dave & Sandy: $100
Harriett Chave: 100
Sharon Moore, in memory of Tom Moore: $75
Marie & Norio Sakaki: $100
Mavis Paravantes, in memory of Rita Mikuse: $100
M. Colleen Stainton: $200
Anonymous: $300
Anonymous: $100
Anonymous: $25
Anonymous: $100
Anonymous: $500
Total: $16,683
