Demand is outdoing supply at the Salmon Arm Women’s Shelter – and your help is needed.
The summer has seen an increased demand in services, and a decrease in donations, explains Jane Shirley, executive director of the SAFE (Shuswap Area Family Emergency) Society.
“It is unusual to run out of items at this time of year as we are usually stocked up until our food drive in October. This year we are thinking we will need to start the food drive earlier than mid-October.”
Throughout June, July and August the shelter has housed 23 women and 19 children.
Items the women’s shelter is particularly in need of are: dry cereals; peanut butter - smooth; regular macaroni noodles; Ichiban soups; Kraft dinner; spaghetti noodles; pasta sauces; canned tuna and salmon; canned fruits and vegetables including mushrooms; condiments such as mayonnaise, salad dressings and ketchup; sugar; white/whole wheat flour; coffee/tea/hot chocolate; cooking oil; tampons; larger diapers; shampoo/conditioners; toilet paper; paper towels; and kids’ snacks or juice boxes needed for daycare, school or support-group snacks.
Produce from the garden is also happily accepted, Shirley says.
“We try to use the Canada Food Guide to ensure that the families in need are getting the proper nutrition during their time of crisis. This time of year we happily accept fresh produce, sharing any extra with families who have left to try to ensure that things don’t go to waste.”
Donations can be dropped off anytime by calling 250-832-9616. Cash/cheque donations are greatly appreciated and can be mailed to: SAFE Society, PO Box 1463, Salmon Arm, V1E 4P6.
Donations can also be made to the society’s website at www.safesociety.ca and follow the link to Canada Helps, where you can donate to the SAFE Society online.
A tax receipt will be emailed to you for a donation of more than $10.