As the 2014 holiday season comes to a close, the YWCA is grateful for a total of $648,000 in cash donations and the many gift-in-kind donations we received to support vulnerable women and their children.
Gift-in-kind donations included; 725 pairs of pajamas donated by Spectra Energy, which will keep women and children in a YWCA shelter and housing program warm on cold winter nights; 951 blankets from Urban Barn which will create a sense of security and comfort for women and children fleeing domestic violence; a substantial donation of soup from the Soup Sisters “Big Stir” event that took the pressure off of cooking for many women in our YWCA Mary Dover House transitional housing program; hundreds of flashlights and whistles donated from MARKS Work Warehouse to keep YWCA clients and staff safe; teddy bears donated from Scott Land and Lease as well as from the Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss and much more.
In addition to the above items, all YWCA programs received tickets to Beauty and the Beast the Musical and Calgary ZOOLIGHTS, which were enjoyed by clients throughout the organization.
The YWCA would also like to thank the Knox Presbyterian Church and WestJet staff for their donations of winter accessories as well as many other groups such as the Ranchman’s Club, the Olive Garden, the National Sports School, Springbank Cottage Childcare Ltd, Banff’s Santa Anonymous and the many individual families and one very kind retired teacher in Bowness for their thoughtful donations.
These generous donations were distributed to clients in need through YWCA’s efficiently run and centrally managed supply-chain process. This internal system ensures every woman and child under a YWCA roof, or connected with a YWCA program, did not go without a gift this holiday season.
