Nearly two hundred people gathered at Mt. Lehman Winery on July 23 for an evening of wine, food, music and spending to support street engaged women in Abbotsford.
The third Connecting Community, Supporting Women event drew people from all over the community to raise funds for the Warm Zone.
Several dignitaries were in attendance including the Mayor and Coun. Patricia Ross and Les Barkman. Mayor Henry Braun lauded the Women’s Resource Society for the important work they do with women in the community. But the most powerful speeches came from the women themselves who spoke emotionally about the support they receive through the Warm Zone. Erica Thompson spoke about her own transformation from the street to her current role as Hep C outreach worker for the Warm Zone.
“I am passionate about supporting women, whatever way that looks,” she said, adding that the Warm Zone is beginning a new Peer Support program in which women who are no longer street engaged support those who are seeking to come off the streets.
Donations are still being tallied but together with the silent auction and gifts given by the end of the evening, the estimate is that the event raised more than $19,000.
For more information about the Warm Zone and the Women’s Resource Society of the Fraser Valley, visit wrsfv.ca.