An Association Advocating for Women And Children (AAWAC) has issued a call for enough donations to assemble at least 50 gift bags to help out their clients over the holiday season.
That's about how many women stay in the social agency's shelter at 144 George St. downtown during a typical night over the winter, said executive director Diane Nakamura.
"And at AAWAC we house the most vulnerable, the most high-risk women," she added.
Items AAWAC is seeking include clothing like toques, mittens, socks and scarves and personal hygiene products like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrushes. AAWAC is also asking that the items be newly-purchased rather than second hand.
Nakamura is aiming for at least 50 gift bags and preferably more, because it's not the same 50 women who stay at the shelter each night.
"Many of them are transient, so we never have the same group of women every night," Nakamura said.
Those interested in helping out are asked to call Nakamura at 250-563-4632.
Nakamura has been AAWAC's executive director since Oct. 15. She has 26 years experience in social work, working with high risk women, children and families for all that time.
"These folks, I just love and care about them very much and coming to AAWAC was an opportunity to continue to help them and to be in a position where I can hopefully make some good, positive changes in the lives of these women," Nakamura said.
She took over from Marianne Sorensen who stepped down from the position after 17 years.
"AAWAC is very grateful to Marianne for all the hard work that she put into [the organization], because when we started off in 1994, we had very little funding and we couldn't afford to take on very many women," Nakamura said.
"In the first year, we were able to house 12 and now on any given night it'll be 40 and during the winter months in excess of 50 per night."
AAWAC was founded Annie by Thuveson and a small group of activists to provide safe and affordable housing for women and girls who are struggling with poverty, homelessness, addiction, mental illness and exploitation.
