The South Okanagan Women in Need Society (SOWINS) is thanking a group of young female hockey players who provided some much-needed support in way of school supplies and financial donation.
Lola and Emily are a part of the Okanagan Hockey Academy and reached out to SOWINS. The U17 and U18 Female Prep team members called SOWINS looking to support them by collecting school supplies for children in need.
There were several drop off locations set, and the support poured in, said SOWINS Danielle Goulden, executive director.
“We are so fortunate to see young women seek to support those in need in our community, particularly children,” said Goulden.
“Honestly, we were overwhelmed with the support we received. Not only were there box upon box of school supplies for the children, but they had also collected more than $1,000 in donations,” Goulden explained.
The South Okanagan Women in Need Society is a registered charity serving women, children, youth, and families facing abuse and violence.
A 24-hour crisis line, emergency sheltering, counselling services for women, youth and children, mobile outreach and community-based victim services programs are a few of the services SOWINS offers to those in need from Summerland to Osoyoos and Princeton.
SOWINS has served the area and looks to continue to grow their programs as the needs grows. The pandemic has only increased domestic abuse and isolation for women. According to Goulden, this year they’ve seen a large increase in calls from women. In police reports across the Okanagan and Similkameen, they’ve seen an increase in domestic abuse calls for service.
In 2019, SOWINS took 2,500 crisis calls, helped house 5,885 women, 3,510 children, with the shelter at capacity for 337 days of 2019.
Sadly, 307 women and children could not be sheltered, according to SOWINS.
For more information or to donate to SOWINS today, call 250-493-4366 or fundraising@sowins.com.
READ MORE: Walk to End Abuse breaks fundraising record
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