More women in the region are seeking help from women’s shelters.
The Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey held their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night.
Community and Fund Development Co-ordinator Bev Spence says it’s bittersweet that they’ve been open for 25 years now.
And she says the shelter is full, and has been full since before Christmas.
Spence says it’s likely the economic downturn was the major impact on women over this past year.
She adds that they’ve unfortunately had to place women in other shelters, as many are still seeking the help.
Because the clientele is increasing, Spence says they have to fundraise 145 thousand dollars this year.
The organization will do that through two fundraisers which are already in the works – the gala and the International Women’s Day.
Spence says they also rely on donations throughout the year.
A bright spot this year is the interest local teens are taking in the organization.
A group of students from Kincardine District Secondary School made a video about woman abuse and the services at the shelter and submitted it to the Toskan Casale Foundation.
Spence says it won a five thousand dollar award, which the students have donated to the shelter.
