With the number of bed stays and youth counselling growing almost 50 per cent from last year, the South Okanagan Women in Need Society is looking for more community support than ever before.
Last year, SOWINS had more than 8,400 bed stays at their transition house for local women, youth and children. The children and youth program had over 500 counselling sessions last year and the society answered more than 1,500 crisis calls.
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Executive director Debbie Scarborough said the growth is due to the society becoming more visible in the community so women and children know how to access the services.
“We’ve been very collaborative and more accessible than we’ve been in the past,” she said.
This is a good thing since recently released statistics reveal that two women a week are killed in Canada.
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“We hear about women who are experiencing this in other countries, but it’s not just those countries’ fight — it’s all of our fights. It’s disheartening that we are one of the safest countries in the world and this is happening.”
She said it’s important for the community to come out and show support for the walk because it lets women who are in abusive situations know that the community is behind them and people will help.
“It’s important we band together and support those who are living in fear, ” she said. “If you come out, you’ve made a statement and you’ve stood up and said you don’t condone that.”
Scarborough said so far SOWINS has raised over $42,000 in fundraising from their annual Walk to End Abuse and she’s hoping more people will come out to show support the important work being done at the event this Sunday in Penticton. All the money is kept locally in the community, she added.
Check in begins at 10 a.m. in Penticton Rotary Park at Martin Street and Lakeshore Drive West, with the walk starting at 10:45 a.m.