Victoria’s Women in Need Community Cooperative (WIN) is looking for extra help as they launch a new fundraising campaign amid struggles to meet increasing demands.
“Over the last five years, we have faced relentless challenges in working to sustain our programs through our thrift stores,” said WIN’s executive director Clare Yazganoglu.
“Our capacity to meet the growing demand for support has been stretched very thin.”
The organization says the need for their services is on a dramatic rise, with WIN supporting 3,100 program participants last year, 600 more participants than they served in 2023 – a 24 per cent increase. Yaganoglu says that due to rising need WIN needs donations of not only household and clothing goods, but financial donations as well to continue their programming.
To cope with these increases WIN launched the Shoulder to Shoulder fundraising campaign. “We are asking for our community to be ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ with us in gifting WIN with financial support either in store, as a community pillar or through our website donation page.”
Through the campaign WIN hopes to raise $25,000 by International Women’s Day (March 8) to bolster their crisis and referral and gift certificate programs. In the past five years, WIN says they have more than doubled their gift certificate program budget. This year they plan to collaborate with more than 40 community program partners to provide $115,500 in gift certificates.
“WIN’s supports are essential to our community, and it would be devastating to have these impacted. We hear this from program participants, service providers, and health-care professionals who rely on us to provide practical support to vulnerable individuals,” said WIN program coordinator Nicole Lapierre.
Those looking to learn more about WIN, their programs or donating can find more information on their website.
