The Comox Valley Transition Society (CVTS) is ready to undertake some much-needed improvements to its downtown office space, thanks to the generous support of several community partners.
On Thursday, Comox District Co-op presented CVTS with a $750 gift, the most recent contribution toward the project.
“It’s significant,” says Heather Ney, executive director of CVTS. “Those kind of donations are huge for us. They all add up and enable us to serve our clients better and longer.”
The renovation project will consist of upgrades to the society’s main meeting space and adjacent kitchen, which is used for a weekly women’s drop-in, as well as other group events.
“The drop-in is intended for women who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, who are living in deep poverty with all their money going toward rent and nothing left over for food or other necessities,” explains Ney. “We have this ratty old kitchen that we serve 50 or so lunches out of every week, so we’re going to fix that up and finally expand our group space.”
Though the project is being funded largely through revenues from the society’s thrift store and proceeds from the Thrifty Foods Smile Card Fundraising Program, donations have also been made by Soroptomist International of Courtenay, the Comox Valley Newcomers Club and, of course, Comox District Co-op.
“Our directors have a lot of history here in the Valley and they’ve been involved with a lot of local organizations,” says Richard Kerton, manager of Comox District Co-op. “They’re very supportive of initiatives that are important to people of the Comox Valley and that have a local impact.
“The Transition Society definitely fits the Co-op’s values of community, education and co-operation,” he adds. “We’re all in this together, so why not help each other out when we can?”
Although work will commence within the next couple of weeks, that doesn’t mean additional funding is not needed or appreciated, says Ney.
The scope of what they’re able to accomplish, she says, will depend on what other funding CVTS can secure.
“We’d like to allow women access to things like a private computer and telephone, for example,” she says. “Anything that will further our mandate of making a positive contribution to the lives of women in our community.”
The Comox Valley Transition Society helps local women and children escape abusive relationships and advocates against violence against women. For more information, visit www.cvts.ca.
— Comox Valley Transition Society