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Lilli House provides safe, secure shelter

Fleeing a violent situation with nothing but the clothes on your back -- this is the unfortunate reality for women at Lilli House.

Imagine having to flee a violent situation with nothing but the clothes on your back.

This is the unfortunate reality for many women who have spent time at Lilli House.

A transition house that provides safe shelter for women and children leaving abusive environments, Lilli House was established by the Comox Valley Transition Society (CVTS) in 1992.

With 14 beds in nine bedrooms, Lilli House provided safe, secure shelter for 208 individuals, who stayed for a total of about 2,600 bed nights, in 2012 alone.

To support the important efforts of Lilli House, Comox District Co-op has earmarked $250 to be used for the purchase of essential toiletries.

“We receive government funding for the House, staff and programs,” says Anne Davis, CVTS program co-ordinator, “but it doesn’t cover all our expenses. And when you’re looking at the amount of shampoo, soap and tissues used over 2,600 days — that’s a lot of toiletries. So this donation from the Co-op is hugely helpful.”

Co-op board member Kay Kennedy says the donations committee first became aware of the great work done by Lilli House when they were researching CVTS prior to giving them a $1,000 donation last year.

“In addition to our various sponsorship programs, we try to donate to small organizations that could use some extra funds to benefit local people,” she says. “So when one of the men on the committee proposed we donate to women and their children who had left a bad situation and needed some basic items, it seemed like a great fit.”

Comox District Co-op, which is entirely owned by its members, donates several thousand dollars each year to Comox Valley charities, including Wheels for Wellness, local environmental initiatives, hospice and emergency support services.

For more information about Lilli House, or to make a donation, call 250-897-0511 or visit www.cvts.ca/lilli-house. To learn more about the Co-op and its community involvement, visit www.comoxvalleycoop.ca.

— Comox Valley Co-op