Women’s Resource Society raises four times its goal in recent food drive

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society (FSJWRS) is expressing its gratitude to the community after its fundraiser collected thousands of items, four times its initial goal. 

FSJWRS held a food drive from March 19th to May 1st, asking the public to donate canned foods, snacks, cereal, pasta, tea, coffee and more.

The society said in a May 13th Facebook post, it had the goal of raising 1,000 items

but the community gave the non-profit a total of 4,062 items. 

“It was awesome, we had a really great response from the community,” said Estefania Albornoz, FSJWRS manager of fundraising and community engagement.

“As usual, the community here is very helpful anytime we give that call for help … that happened in the past, and it happened again with this food drive.”

All items collected will be used to help FSJWRS’s clients who are seeking help at its outreach store.

Albornoz said there is a greater need for help in the community as the number of visitors has increased in recent years. 

“Last year, we received more than 16,000 visits to the store and that number has been increasing year after year.” 

Albornoz encourages anyone needing help to visit its shelter, as they help more than women. 

“The store is open for everyone, sometimes people think we only help women, but we help men, low-income families and regardless of religion,” Albornoz said.

“Regardless of who they are, if they are in need, they can just come, we don’t ask questions, we don’t judge, we just offer help.” 

More information about the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society can be found on its website.