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Tree of Hope posts $30K fundraising goal for its 30th year

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The local women’s shelter needs your help in order to provide some hope this holiday season to families who are fleeing domestic violence and abuse.

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Until Dec. 23, the Strathcona Shelter Society Ltd., also known as A Safe Place, is hosting its annual Tree of Hope campaign at the Sherwood Park Mall.

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To mark the campaign’s 30th anniversary milestone, the non-profit is hoping to raise $30,000. All of the funds will support families currently staying at the shelter during Christmas and also throughout the year.

“It’s a very difficult time of year for our families at the shelter. These funds go a long way to make their stay during Christmas extra special,” said Karen Kadatz, A Safe Place’s executive director.

So far, support has been slow with only $6,000 collected within the first two weeks.

“We really do appreciate the support, but donations are down significantly. I don’t think we’ve even reached 20 per cent of our goal,” Kadatz said.

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Over the past 29 years, the Tree of Hope event has raised more than $560,000 for the shelter. With that success in mind, A Safe Place’s executive director wants to say a “heartfelt thanks” to its volunteers who have donated their time year after year.

A Safe Place is hoping to raise $30,000 to mark the 30th anniversary of its Tree of Hope campaign. Donations can be made at the event booth at the Sherwood Park Mall until Dec. 23. Photo supplied
A Safe Place is hoping to raise $30,000 to mark the 30th anniversary of its Tree of Hope campaign. Donations can be made at the event booth at the Sherwood Park Mall until Dec. 23. Photo supplied

Ria Lindner is one of those volunteers, and she has supported the campaign for almost 30 years. Her mother-in-law got her interested as she provided administration support when the Tree of Hope was first launched, and Lindner would join her volunteering every year at the campaign booth. Even though her mother-in-law passed away a few years ago, she continues to sign up for the Tree of Hope volunteering in her honour.

“It’s a good cause. It’s something that it’s great that’s it’s here, even though we wish it didn’t have to be, but it’s happening behind the scenes,” Lindner noted.

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Many residents have made their donations to the Tree of Hope an annual tradition. Some families make a donation instead of exchanging gifts or they make a donation on behalf of a loved one.

“They look for us in the mall every year because they know we’re going to be there. A lot of them have a lot of stories to tell. They’ve either been affected themselves or they have family members who were,” Lindner said. “They’re coming back to give back because they know how good of a support system it was to them.”

Domestic violence is not only a women’s issue

Notably, a lot of men have donated.

“We have a lot of young dads coming forward and saying ‘I was a child in a shelter and I want to teach my family, my kids, and my friends how meaningful it is to give back’,” Kadatz said. “This isn’t just a women’s issue — this is a family issue, this is a community issue.”

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In the recent fiscal year, A Safe Place provided shelter to 213 residents — 178 women with their children and 35 single women. That drop in clients was due to COVID-19. Before the pandemic, A Safe Place supported and sheltered an average of 700 individuals — or more than 300 families — annually. For 2021-2022, more than 38,000 minutes were devoted to its crisis and shelter intake phone lines, and it supported another 76 families through community outreach.

“Everyone can be affected by domestic abuse and violence,” A Safe Place’s executive director explained. “It can be your neighbour, your daughter, your mother, your friend, your co-worker. We’re there to help not just for shelter but other services to provide that support and information. We provide all kinds of resources to help people get through whatever they’re going through.”

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Besides monetary donations, A Safe Place also has a wish list for its clients that will help cover basic needs and provide the comforts of home. Some of those items include new women’s and children pyjamas, new socks and underwear, new shoes, boots and sandals, journals and art supplies, new, unwrapped toys, full-sized toiletries, unopened feminine hygiene products, diapers, and baby wipes.

To arrange a donation or to sign up to volunteer for the Tree of Hope, call 780-464-7232 or email officeadmin@asafeplace.ca.

If you are or if you know someone who is experiencing domestic violence or abuse, you can call A Safe Place’s 24/7 crisis line at 780-464-7233. For more information on supports and resources, go to asafeplace.ca.

lmorey@postmedia.com

twitter.com/LindsayDMorey

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