As part of the this year's annual national Love You campaign, local Shoppers Drug Mart locations and Wellwise by Shoppers raised more than $10,500 for the Green Haven Shelter for Women.
The campaign supports over 450 women’s charities across the country, and representatives from Orillia’s stores presented the funds to the local women’s shelter at the Shoppers Drug Mart on Westmount Drive this week.
Funds were raised through checkout lines in September and October, goodie bags, as well as a gala and mingle event held at the Westmount Shoppers in November, replete with a red carpet and opportunities for makeovers with store staff.
Prior to COVID, local locations supported Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital through the campaign, but they made the change to Green Haven to more directly support women and children impacted by the pandemic, said local officials.
“The company realized that the women and children … would be having the biggest impact during COVID, losing jobs, a lot of support that they were having prior,” said Front Street Shoppers Drug Mart owner Christina Chung.
“To make a bigger impact, Shoppers Drug Mart decided, ‘Hey, let's pick a charity going to help, specifically, women and children,” said Westmount Shoppers owner BiQi Lee. “It wasn’t hard (to pick).”
Shoppers employees found people were eager to donate once they found Green Haven would be the recipient.
“I found a lot of women had had to use Green Haven themselves, and they wanted to give back and they wanted to support,” said employee Rose Winters.
From the rising costs of living, to COVID-19 lockdowns, the women’s shelter has been much busier than usual, said Green Haven executive director Norma Alford.
“Since COVID, women and children have been disproportionately affected. We know domestic violence has increased through COVID with lockdowns,” she said. “Our numbers have gone through the roof in the last couple of years in crisis calls, counselling, and shelter stays.”
Alford said the donations like these have a “huge” impact on the shelter’s operations.
“I'm so thankful. We receive some funding from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, but that only covers very basic operating costs,” she explained.
“Donations like this and from the community help us go from good to great, so we can go from just providing room, to providing Christmas," said Alford. “These donations really help us go the extra step (to) reach more people and provide more support for the community.”
Residents interested in supporting Green Haven may do so here.
