Orange shirt fundraiser supports FSJ Friendship Society

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A pair of local businesses have teamed up for an orange shirt fundraiser to support the Fort St. John Friendship Society and to raise awareness about Residential Schools.

What started as a question from a customer asking if Home Hardware was selling orange shirts turned into a partnership with a local Indigenous artist and SJA Promo.

Shelley Gallinger of Home Hardware says the organic idea was met with full support by her team.

“As a locally owned business, we are always looking for ways to support our community, so I discussed the opportunity with our staff,” says Gallinger.

Kailey Odermatt of SJA Promo says her company was looking for a project like this to take part in.

“We were so excited when [Gallinger] reached out to us. We had been discussing doing something for the upcoming Orange Shirt Day in the fall when we heard the news of the 215 children. We wanted to do something right away,” says Odermatt.

The companies reached out to local Indigenous artist Alisa Froh to create a design for the orange shirt. Froh says she was enthusiastic about participating as this subject hit close to home for her.

“I am proud to share my art in hopes that it can start conversations, bring truth to light, and reach a higher level of understanding of each other,” says Froh.

Froh created the design to create awareness for the children who never returned from Residential School, says a release. The design was made with love and with sadness, as living with intergenerational trauma has made Froh a strong and resilient artist.

The decision to direct funds towards the Fort St. John Friendship Society was based on the impressive quality of programming for children and youth in the community, says a release.

“Our ecological approach to promoting self-empowerment and self-reliance is even more critical with the compounding stressors we are currently facing as a result of the pandemic,” says Vanessa Lalonde, Fort St. John Friendship Society.

“These funds will contribute so greatly to our Child and Youth Programs, and will focus on educational tools, resources, materials and supports.”

Starting on June 29th at 2 p.m. at Home Hardware, orange shirts can be purchased for $20 with proceeds going to the Fort St. John Friendship Society.