Finances critical at Women in Need Society

Faced with a struggling economy and a growing demand, the Women in Need Society could be forced to permanently close its Family Resource Centres unless $500,000 can be raised in the next month.

“Our greatest challenge is that the demand for our community programs has grown significantly and is outpacing the revenue generated from our stores, limiting our ability to serve the women who so desperately need our help,” says Karen Ramchuk, executive director of WINS.

“While our retail stores continue to be profitable, a decrease in general retail spending and an increase in client service needs, taxes and wages has affected our organization substantially.”

Founded in 1992, WINS is a nonprofit organization that operates five thrift stores, a donation centre, a free goods referral program and four Family Resource Centres.

Ramchuk explained those centres provide critical support to vulnerable families living in affordable housing, including access to computers, resume-writing and job-search skills, child-care supports and referrals to other agencies for additional needs.

“The women who leverage WINS services are desperately trying to start a new life for themselves and their families,” Ramchuk added.

“They may have fled an unstable country and are making a new home in Canada, or they may have escaped an abusive situation and are ready to move forward. Either way, our resources and services are necessary for these women to establish a secure and safe family environment in Calgary.”

WINS Family Resource Centres will undergo a temporary closure from March 23 to the end of April while the society ramps up fundraising. But if it cannot raise the much-needed $500,000, the resource centres will be forced to permanently close.

The organization is desperately seeking the support of Calgarians to help keep their resource centres open, asking for cash donations by visiting www.womeninneed.net or donations of gently used clothing, household goods and furniture. Shopping at WINS stores across Calgary or selecting WINS as the beneficiary of community-based event donations are other ways to help.

Ramchuk estimates between 6,000 and 7,000 individual women are helped on the path of selfsustainability every year through WINS’ community programs, adding that the number of services offered to clients has doubled between 2014 and 2017.

For more information and to give, visit www.womeninneed.net.