Money donated to the now-defunct Sparrow’s Hope Women’s Shelter in the County of Barrhead will continue to help provide family violence prevention services in the community.
Westlock’s Hope Resource Centre got a $3,000 boost, while in Barrhead the FCSS Family Violence Prevention Outreach Program got $12,580.
Pamela Griffiths, who helped facilitate the advisory committee that ultimately made the decision about where the money would go, said the money went back into the communities from whence it was donated.
She also noted while there are many worthwhile organizations in the region providing family violence prevention, such as the local Victim Services Units, the committee didn’t want to spread the money too thin.
“Dispersing that amount to 10 different agencies splits it so low, so it was nice to be able to give a lump sump to be able to do something with for each of those communities,” she said.
Dave Nelson is chair of Westlock Youth For Christ (YFC), the organization that spearheaded efforts to get a women’s shelter established in the region. He said the board is happy to know the money won’t just be absorbed into YFC, but will rather continue helping those it was intended to help.
“It’s sad that Sparrow’s Hope couldn’t continue operating, but this is the next best thing,” he said.
Sylvia Yoder, executive director of the Hope Resource Centre, said rather than just going to operating costs, the donation would be used to purchase 200 copies of the book, When Love Hurts, which is a resource the centre provides to women who seek their help.
“It’s a very, very informative book for helping women understand what abuse is, creating safety plans and all that,” she said. “We are very grateful for this gift.”
Barrhead outreach worker Heidi Magus said the money will be used to help keep their outreach programs going — including providing anti-bullying sessions in local schools.
“Our funding ends March 31, so this will be able to bridge us until another grant comes in or some more funding comes in,” she said.
Both Magus and Yoder lamented the closure of the facility, which they say was a valuable resource within the community.
Typically about 10 per cent of women who seek help end up going to a shelter, and one of the main reasons is that can mean not only leaving the bad situation, but also the good things — family, friends, work, businesses, or animals on the farm.
“It’s overwhelming to leave,” Magus said.
Yoder noted having a shelter right within the Westlock area also helped reduce costs for her organization — transporting women to a shelter further away simply means more cost and time — but she’s happy to know there will continue to be services in the community for people seeking to leave abusive relationships.
