Through her involvement in a foundation serving single mothers and children experiencing poverty, Michelle Jankovich has become increasingly aware of how, for many women, one unforeseen change in life — like a loss of a job, an illness, or a change in marital status — could result in a situation of need.
In light of that, the Cause We Care Foundation board of directors member is pleased that many of the charitable organization’s giving opportunities both engage and forge connections between donors and recipients, instilling a sense of compassion and awareness.
“Any mom wants the best for their kid. You could be in a mansion, you could be in a shelter, what you want is the same thing: you want your kid to be safe and healthy. That’s what you want. So to struggle with that is such a hard thing for a single mother,” says Jankovich, a Deep Cove resident.
The Vancouver-based Cause We Care Foundation was launched in 2007 with a mission of supporting resources and programs helping single mother families in need.
Assistance is offered based on three identified areas of need: safe and affordable housing, childcare and supplies.
In terms of safe and affordable housing, the foundation is nearing completion of a capital campaign to raise $1.5 million in support of the YWCA Cause We Care House to be located on East Hastings Street in Vancouver.
“This is being built from the ground up,” says Jankovich.
The initiative is a partnership between the City of Vancouver, the YWCA and Cause We Care, which is approximately $100,000 from its fundraising goal.
The resulting building will house a Downtown Eastside/Strathcona public library branch, space for YWCA community family programming and 21 units (a mix of two, three and four-bedrooms) of long-term supportive housing for single mothers and their children at risk of homelessness.
“That’s going to break ground any week now and then should be livable in 2015,” says Jankovich.
In regard to the foundation’s pillar of childcare, for the last two years, Cause We Care has provided funding to Kids First, an after school program serving students at East Vancouver inner city school Thunderbird elementary. The program’s goal is to provide a safe environment for children, particularly those who are vulnerable or at risk, to go while their mothers are working. Kids First serves 50 children, Mondays through Thursdays, from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
The program is also being expanded to offer spring break and summer programs.
As for supplies, Cause We Care offers both emergency and day-to-day staples to mothers and their children in need. The organization offers one-off emergency funding to those in crisis, typically by distributing funds to front-line organizations, which can provide immediate, hands-on help.
Cause We Care also runs two annual supply drives, seeking support from the community. The foundation’s eighth annual Christmas Hamper Drive is underway. This holiday season those involved hope to distribute 600 hampers to single mother families across the Lower Mainland, up from last year’s 540.
The foundation runs a smaller-scale hamper drive at Mother’s Day and in the spring, supplied approximately 300 hampers.
In the next week, community members are encouraged to donate to the holiday hamper drive. Each $60 donation via the Cause We Care website, will cover the cost of one hamper, loaded with groceries, treats, gifts and a hand-written card. Corporate donations of large numbers of items are welcome.
Local residents are also encouraged to volunteer to stuff or deliver the hampers Tuesday, Dec. 9.
“We want people to be connected,” says Jankovich.
“We want to keep it real that these hampers are made by real women who could be in the situation and for the grace of God aren’t. And the women that we’re helping are our friends, could be us. It’s not just a number to them. We want the connection, that’s why we love having everybody come and stuff them,” she adds.
The hamper stuffing day often proves to be an emotional experience for volunteers.
“Because you’re thinking, ‘Oh my word, these women are so happy to get what some of us just take for granted.’ It just changes your view on society and how we need to just really be there for each other in any way that we can,” says Jankovich.
Beneficiaries are identified through a host of front-line organizations serving single mothers and children. On the North Shore, the foundation will distribute hampers through a number of groups, including North Shore Neighbourhood House, North Shore Women’s Centre and the North Shore Crisis Services Society.
“We work with women and children fleeing abuse, which is why this is such a nice fit for us,” says Margaret Harman, program director of the North Shore Crisis Services Society.
The society offers first-stage (30-day stay), housing at SAGE Transition House, as well as second-stage (longer stay), housing at Hope’s Place, in addition to community and multicultural outreach services programs.
“Women don’t always necessarily go to a transition house but may need help once they’ve left an abusive relationship. Or they may be in an abusive relationship and just struggling to get out of it, but because there are so many barriers, what we do is try to help them overcome those barriers,” says Harman.
Barriers can include finances, childcare, safe and affordable housing and legal assistance.
The society also offers an adolescent and child empowerment program offering counselling services to children who’ve witnessed or experienced abuse, a women’s 24-hour support line, and runs The Good Stuff Connection Thrift Store. Store sales support the society, as well as a free clothing program serving the society’s clients in addition to those of other local social service agencies.
The Cause We Care Foundation hamper drive is a welcome tradition for North Shore Crisis Services Society’s clients.
“For the women at the transition house, it’s lovely for Christmas,” says Harman.
She shares a written statement from one of last year’s hamper recipients, the woman’s name withheld due to confidentiality: “I am so grateful for the gift basket — this was a lean year for us. My daughter and I are so appreciative of people’s kindness in doing this for complete strangers. Thank you!”
Another recipient had this to say, “The gift basket was such a surprise. It really helped in a year that I didn’t have much. Thank you!”
A number of local retailers have launched campaigns to support the efforts of the Cause We Care Foundation.
An ongoing initiative is bracelet sales at Blue Ruby Jewelry. The store is launching its new holiday edition styles this week. Bracelets, available as singles or in sets, for men and women, range in price from $20 to $100. One hundred per cent of proceeds are donated to the foundation and to date, sales have exceeded $120,000.
Aritzia.com is also showing support to Cause We Care. As part of its #FullofHeart campaign, intended to celebrate the women who matter most, community members are encouraged to post a photo of themselves with a loved one on Instagram using the tag #FullofHeart. For each Instagram submission, Aritzia will donate a brick on their behalf to help build the YWCA Cause We Care House.
“The goal is to have 4,000 of those. . . .” says Jankovich. “In theory, it could finish what we need for our housing campaign. It’s huge.”
Pottery Barn has also launched a holiday campaign in support of the foundation.
Cause We Care is incredibly grateful for the continued support received.
“It’s these creative things that these people do, they just want to help and they want to engage the community,” says Jankovich.
For more information, to make a donation or volunteer, visit causewecare.org.
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North Shore Crisis Services Society and SAGE Transition House are hosting their annual Breakfast with Santa event for the women and children who’ve used their services this past year.
“We provide a gift for all the children and all the moms,” says Harman.
Society staff members are currently accepting donations of new gift items and gift cards to be distributed to the women and children of all ages set to be in attendance at this year’s event, Dec. 6.
Gift suggestions include movie gift cards, bus tickets, store gift cards serving teens and adults, warm clothing, household items, toys for the younger set, grocery and household store gift cards, sleepwear and underwear. Monetary donations are also welcomed.
Gift donations should be dropped off by Monday, Dec. 1 at The Good Stuff Connection Thrift Store, 154 West Third St., North Vancouver.
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