|
A Special Message from our Executive Director
When the #MeToo movement caught fire on social media last October, our Centre was flooded with calls for support like no other time in our 29-year history.
#MeToo had an incredible impact across our program areas, but it didn’t happen in a vacuum.
Dialogue about sexual violence has been steadily increasing in Canada over the last four years – from the time the Jian Ghomeshi story broke in late 2014, all the way up until recently when Harvey Weinstein was exposed and the #MeToo movement took hold globally. There has been no shortage of survivors ready to courageously tell their stories.
Thankfully, our Centre was able to respond.
Sometimes our response included issuing a public statement and speaking to every media outlet in the community. Sometimes our response looked like meticulously reviewing university policies and providing feedback. Sometimes our response resulted in the development of a community task force and a review of police sexual assault investigations. And sometimes, our response was quiet, behind closed doors, one on one with survivors.
This is what it means to be a community-based Sexual Assault Support Centre. This is what makes us unique and so critical to our community. We advocate for survivors at the individual level and the systematic level to create change, and we show up when our community and survivors need us.
Due to the overwhelming, increasing demand for our services, our ability to show up has been challenged like never before. Counselling waitlists are at an all time high, and grow with each passing week.
Your support could help us meet the demand. Will you join us today as a monthly donor?
Your monthly contribution can change lives:
- $10 a month can provide survivors with practical assistance such as bus tickets, food, and self-care items
- $25 a month can provide 8 hours of coverage on our 24 Hour Support Line, ensuring a trained and caring person is always available to take a call
- $50 a month can support workshops for youth about consent and healthy-relationships
- $75 a month can support one survivor through their healing journey
Your donation would mean the world to us, and to the people we serve.
To make a monthly donation safely and securely, please visit our website at http://www.sascwr.org/donate. Or, you may send cheques to: Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, 300 -151 Frederick St. Kitchener, Ontario N2H 2M2
Thank you for standing with survivors of sexual violence. With your support, we can continue to build a brighter future for survivors and our entire community.
Yours truly,
Sara Casselman
Executive Director
P.S. – Please help us spread the message to survivors that they are not alone by donating today. Thank you!!
|
