The community came together over the weekend to fundraise for the Green haven Shelter for Women in Orillia.
The event held this past Saturday at the Aladdin Banquest Hall is one of many events needed to help Green Haven raise their yearly goal of $150,000.
This year the event rose just under two thousand dollars for the Shelter. One thosuand, 9 hundred and 12 dollars was raised.
Executive Director at the shelter, Liz Wescott says their operating costs run around $650,000 per year, and their service contract with the ministry doesn’t provide sufficient funding.
Wescott says the money is essential in providing services to 1000’s of women and children within our community each year.
Green Haven has numerous methods of support available within the community, like a 24 hour a day crisis line, emercency refuge for women and children, community outreach programs along with court, transitional and child support services.
Wescott tells us that each year Green Haven will provide residential support to between 85-90 women, 75-80 children and will respond to upwards of about 1000 crisis calls.
Statistically 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence — 1 in 2 will be sexually assaulted before the age of 10.
Wescott shares it’s difficult to reach victims, as abuse really is a silent crime, one that many women blame themselves for and have difficulty breaking the cycle of.
On behalf of Green Haven Wescott says she is very thankful for the continued support they have been given by the community.
She says they realise there are not the only charity in town and appreciates all the support they have been shown over their nearly 20 years in Orillia.
