Shoppers Drug Marts deliver for Harbour House

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on February 26, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Harbour House Emergency Shelter of the YWCA Lethbridge and District has received a significant donation from all of the Shoppers Drug Marts in the city totalling almost $12,000.
A donation cheque was presented Thursday to YWCA interim CEO Tracy James by Loa Manning, associate owner of Shoppers Drug Mart in Park Place Mall representing all five of the Shoppers Drug Marts in the city.
“Through the cosmetics departments, there is fundraising that they do throughout the year and then our big push is in September/October and that was also where we all five stores raised almost $12,000,” said Manning.
She said Shoppers Drug Mart as a corporation recognized that especially during the pandemic women were really struggling, and so they made a commitment that the Women’s Health Initiative which they raise money for every fall, would choose local shelters, and for Lethbridge they chose Harbour House because of all the great work that they do.
“They do amazing work and they are definitely needed in the community and we in the pharmacy, we see some of the people that they help so it’s very important, so it feels great,” said Manning.
Interim CEO for YWCA, Tracy James, said the money will be used to help the women and children they serve.
“Harbour House puts great effort into trying to go over and above what we can do for the women and so it works so well to get donations such as this,” said James.
She said this money will allow them to help with the purchase of medications left behind while fleeing domestic violence, or get a car seat for their children.
“We wouldn’t be able to do it without these kinds of donations, so thank you Shoppers for the incredible effort that you made to raise this money for us,” said James.
James said she was blown away when she realized the amount written on the cheque, especially because the funds were raised in such a short period of time, in a matter of weeks.
“I was incredibly shocked and elated to receive these donations from the community in order to provide the services here at the YWCA,” said James.
She said these types of donations are vital, because without them they would only be able to offer in-house services to the women and children in need.
“We can’t go out and provide bus tickets to get to appointments, we can’t provide transportation maybe to the Y all the time for somebody that’s fleeing domestic abuse, to get them out of their situation, we can’t do car seats. We’ve never been able to do car seats outside of donations and it’s vital for children to be safe in vehicles and some parents just can’t afford it,” said James.
She said that thanks to donations like the one received, they will be able to help in those areas and therefore they are very grateful.

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