Christmas 2018 Season’S Greetings from the Director
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Women In Need Growing Stronger Dove Tales Christmas 2018 Season’s Greetings from the Director I want to thank all WINGS’ friends who believe in the vital and life transforming work we do at WINGS to keep women and children safe. The support programs and safe affordable housing could not be accomplished without a caring community. Every day the Board of Directors and staff are committed to find, fund, create and deliver the most effective programs to help women and children achieve a life defined by safety and independence. As we move forward we are committed to our values: SAFETY- Nothing else matters if we are not safe. INSPIRE EVERYDAY- We’re here to inspire everyone that crosses our path-clients, staff, supporters and friends. EXCELLENCE and INTEGRITY IN ACTION-Excellence and integrity are at the forefront of every thought, decision, and action. RESPECT for all. We serve with kindness and without judgement. BELIEVE in the POSSIBLE. We believe that the future will always be better. Better is possible. The issue of domestic violence is complex as it is heart wrenching. Our holistic approach to support women and children creates the best possible chance for families to permanently flee a life defined by domestic violence. Together we can make a difference. This holiday season I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I am looking forward to 2019 and what we can accomplish as there is still work to do to end family violence. Patricia Garrett Executive Director Christmas Prayers The women are looking forward to Christmas. Each apartment has a tree, lights and decorations. They already know of the parties and special activities that they can participate in with their children. Everyone is excited! Yet they can still feel guilty, confused and frightened as they challenge the ghosts of Christmas past. They need support and hope to continue to do the difficult work of change and of taking risks. They want this Christmas to be different from last Christmas. They want their children to enjoy Christmas and to feel free and safe to be themselves. They were asked what difference WINGS makes for them. One Mom wrote: I’ve changed how I see myself. How I take care of myself. My focus is on myself and my children. I am given time to re-learn what I want and need in my life. I feel safe to feel my feelings. I feel supported and validated from my experience. Another Mom said: At WINGS we attend group. We learn about different topics. We learn from each other. We have counse- lors and we meet each week. In order to change and heal, we have to go through the grieving process. Being at WINGS, I feel more confident. I can think clearly. It still isn’t easy, but we have time. One day at group we were talking about what they see themselves doing in the next year of their life. These are some of their responses; I see myself in my own home, waking up, leaving for work; supporting and loving my children A healthy family for myself and my children I would love for a happiness to live in me that has never been felt before I want to have more freedom in my choices for myself and my children. To have a safe and stable home. To be happy and content and financially independent. To have my own place and to learn to drive. Well next year starts with today! With your help we can continue to help our women and children feel safe and be inspired to risk new heights and dreams. Your support throughout the year and over Christmas lets them know they have value; that they are in fact worthy of their dreams. That they count. They are not invisible because people in the community care about them and share in their dreams. We have a child here who, each night, prays for everyone at WINGS, families and staff. Those are the purest and most powerful of prayers. I know many others pray too. Thank you for your love, your support and your prayers. It’s working! Take care and God Bless Karen Kingdom Program Coordinator 2 WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2 Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001 Thank you to everyone who donated our 13th Annual Online Auction. It was a huge success! Alberta Blue Cross Double Diamond Electronics Nancy McClelland Alberta Job Corps Dr. Cynthia Zutter Normand’s Bistro Andrea Roy Edible Arrangements Sherwood Ope Opolony, Ope’s Custom Andrew Kay at TD Waterhouse Park Automotive Be Watcha Wanna Bee Quilting Edmonton International Raceway Paintball Action Games Group Edmonton Opera Pat Garrett Belay advisory Ellie Merrick PCI Supply Betty McCollough Escape City Raymond Caron Bonnie Doon Bowling Lanes Esther van Herk Red Arrow Motor Coach Boston Pizza Fabulous Balloons Rob Hislop Photography Caitlin Stratton Fran Weekes Running Room Caron Services Ltd. GraniteWorx Salisbury Greenhouse Cathy Jo Kickham Grower Direct Capilano Sawmill Capilano Chateau Lacombe Hotel Isabel Werner Shandi Schwartz, STRUT Footwear Christina Gray – MLA, Edmonton- Jim & Carole Barker & Apparel Millwoods Karen Taillefer Shoppers Drug Mart Cineplex South Common Karl & Carol Janzen SIF – Superior Industrial Frictions City Ford Edmonton Katie Clackson Ltd. City of Edmonton, Citizen Services KDesign Silverware Jewelry Sister Rita Schiller Department Kentucky Bluegrass Stantec Consulting Ltd. Clementine KPMG Starbucks South Common Connexxions Café Liberty Security Steven Parks, DOCAP Cora’s Sherwood Park Limak Investments Inc. Sue McDonald Cordell Allers, Canadian Dry Air Linda Churchill TELUS World of Science Desiccant Systems Inc. Little Plant Shop The Art of Cake Craft Beer Market Lyle Thomas The Highlevel Diner Dairy Queen – Beverly Marie Desrochers The IT Crowd Dan Chivers MH Vicars School of Massage The Merrick Family Delta Hotels by Marriott Edmonton Therapy The Rec Room Centre Suites Milestones Grill + Bar South Tzin Wine and Tapas Delta Hotels by Marriott Edmonton Common Upper Crust Café South Conference Centre Miller Crossing Dental Wheaton Honda As well as the members of WINGS Board of Directors and Special Events Committee who tirelessly sought out items for the auction. We could not have done it without you! Thank you to all of our friends who supported WINGS’ 13th Annual Make Believe Ball & Online Auction! You raised $17,400 for WINGS! Beautiful, brand new Christmas Our grey cup raffle toys for the ticket sellers did a children from great job again this Lindsay and year. Thank you for friends at Novo all your hard work! Nordisk. There are so many wonderful people to thank in our community for helping to make a difference in the lives of the women and children at WINGS. We have a deep respect and humble gratitude to those who support our events and donate their time, talent and treasures to help us do our work. Our ability to keep things running smoothly depends on the dedica- tion of so many different people and groups who are interested in helping WINGS families. September, October, and November were filled with events which made a great difference: WINGS’ 13th Annual Make Believe Ball & Online auction, the ‘Shower WINGS with Love and Community’ Event, The Shoppers Drug Mart Growing Women’s Health Campaign, the ‘Women’s Night Out’ with Cea Sunrise Person, Grey Cup raffle, the Monat Global Family Christmas event, and our official Grand Opening of the Home Next Door Youth Room - Kristie’s Room. It is difficult to express just how grateful we are to our amazing volunteers, whose countless hours of hard work and passion for WINGS made these events possible (and hugely successful!) THANK YOU to our amazing Board members, Special Events committee members, and volunteers for your incredible love for WINGS and the families who reside here. Also, thank you to Jackie Tupper, Carole Noland and Committee for organizing the Community Shower event, as well as Jill MacLean and committee for their great work on the Women’s Night Out at the Derrick Club. As well, we can’t forget to thank the generous sponsors for both of these events! A special thank you goes out to Connie Lloyd and her legion of talented and dedicated Christmas Angels who organize the annual resident Christmas party! As I reflect on 2018 the best memories are meeting with our many supporters who each make a difference in their own way. I invite you all to visit me for a tour of WINGS and the Home Next Door at any time, so you can see firsthand the positive difference that you are making. The best gift that WINGS families will receive this holiday season is knowing that the community cares about them – and supports the women and their decision to break the cycle of family violence for themselves and their children. We will continue to meet new people and tell them about the life saving work done at WINGS. Nonprofit organizations such as WINGS rely heavily on the generosity of those who have been successful to give back to those who need a hand up in life. Please think of WINGS’ families as you make your holiday plans. We know that the community’s spirit of love and of generosity, will shine this holiday season, as it does the whole year through. From the fund development desk, thank you and Merry Christmas! Rhonda Janzen Mgr, Resources & Development 4 WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2 Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001 Child Care Chatter It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Child Care! Yes, the tree is up along with the decorations transforming our room into a very festive place.