HELP US HELP HER: AVANA FOUNDATION HOPES TO DELIVER RELIEF OVER THE HOLIDAYS
REGINA, SK., December 15, 2021 – There are approximately 100,000 victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in any given year, with Saskatchewan nearly doubling the national average. Knowing the statistics of IPV in Saskatchewan and the crucial need for affordable housing and IPV-specific initiatives, Avana Developments Inc. has made supporting victims of IPV and calling for dramatic change around improving the systems that support those victims their purpose. The Avana Foundation is the non-profit arm of the larger Avana Developments Inc., with a dedicated focus on offering safe, attainable housing to women and children who are fleeing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). In addition to their primary focus on affordable housing, they have developed various initiatives, fundraisers, and events to further this support.
Led by CEO Nicki Ackerman of the Avana Foundation, the Help Us Help Her fundraiser was developed out of a desire to positively impact families during the holidays, which can end up being an incredibly difficult time. “The Help Us Help Her annual fundraiser creates a magical experience for families who often dread the holidays due to their family circumstances and hardships they face. Seeing the smiling faces assures us that the work we do matters and has a significant impact on our community and these deserving women and children. The families within our community need our time, our energy, our compassion, and our understanding. Help Us Help Her creates relief for families navigating some of the most challenging times they’ll ever face.” shared Ackerman.
This year marks the 3rd Annual Help Us Help Her initiative, and the committee has been making a push for this to be their most successful year yet. Within one week of publishing news of this year’s event, Ms. Ackerman found herself overwhelmed with support. Sponsors and community members have shown up in a big way in 2021 and are offering many levels of assistance to the program, whether through donations of time, money or items. The committee and sponsors consist of community leaders like Cameron Sebastian from Bronco Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling and businesses known for their charitable giving: CBS Contracting, Dream and GR Flooring Inc. With the generous support of the community, the committee has raised well over $50,000 for local organizations; the YWCA Regina and SOFIA House. This allows for every dollar raised to be spent on warm clothes for children, food hampers, games, and essential items for the 2021 Christmas season and beyond.
A crucial aspect of the fundraiser is the delivery of gifts. The travel expenses and logistics will often hinder these families from obtaining necessities. Delivery ultimately ensures the elimination of as many barriers to access these goods as possible. The 2021 committee safely delivered every single item, along with some joy, to the YWCA Regina and SOFIA House in the last few weeks of December.
For more information on the Avana Foundation and its various initiatives, please visit the Avana Foundation web page.
