Fort St. John store earns top spot in raising over $18k for Women’s Resource Society

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Over $18,000 has been raised for the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society (FSJWRS) through this year’s Giving Shelter campaign.

In a Facebook post on December 2nd, the FSJWRS said the local Shoppers Drug Mart store had officially finished number one in Canada for fundraising in support of a local shelter, bringing in $18,080.

“This is the power of a community that stands together,” the society wrote. “Fort St. John just outperformed major urban centres across Canada.”

The Giving Shelter campaign is an annual initiative by Shoppers Drug Mart that raises funds to support women’s shelters and organizations across the country.

Locally, the effort was led by Shoppers employee and former FSJWRS board member Jamie Parsons, who organized fundraisers including the ‘Gift of Flight’ WestJet raffle.

In a statement to Energeticcity.ca, Parsons said she was proud to contribute to the initiative and support the FSJWRS, while also confirming the Fort St. John Shoppers had the highest donation total for a single location in Canada.

“I am proud to have given so much time and passion into this fundraiser,” Parsons said. 

“As someone who has more than once at her job taught someone how to apply makeup to hide her bruises, I am pleased to be able to support the FSJWRS in every way I can.”

Five hundred tickets were sold at $20 each on October 2nd and 3rd, selling out by the second day. Becky Grimsrud was announced as the winner on October 6th, receiving a round-trip flight for two to any WestJet destination.

In Tuesday’s post, the FSJWRS thanked Parsons and other Shoppers staff including Acacia Slingerland, Li Hardy, Mike Giffen, Irving Tang and Tammy Koponyas, who presented the cheque to Estefania Albornoz, the society’s manager of fundraising and community engagement.

The society also thanked members of the community who contributed through the fundraisers as well as in-person and online donations.

“Your collective effort ensures the FSJ Women’s Resource Society can continue providing essential support to women rebuilding their lives after leaving abuse,” the organization said.

The FSJWRS provides a variety of services to individuals and families, including mental health supports and its Outreach Store, which provides food, clothing and other essential items.

Monetary donations can be sent to the FSJWRS through its website.