Moose Jaw Co-op and SaskWater are shining a light on Moose Jaw Transition House and its services by conducting a month-long fundraiser to support the non-profit’s efforts to renovate its shelter.
Both organizations kicked off the second annual Project Shine campaign at the Co-op grocery store on May 7, with a half-dozen volunteers and staff from Transition House helping bag groceries.
Customers who shop at any Co-op-connected outlet in Moose Jaw, Avonlea or Liberty throughout May can support the campaign by donating $2 or more at the till.
The Co-op and Crown corporation will each provide matching grants up to $2,500, which will fund upgrades at the Moose Jaw Transition House (MJTH) shelter. The building’s main floor requires extensive renovations since the linoleum flooring is outdated, old and difficult to maintain.
Launched last year, the inaugural Project Shine raised more than $7,800 for the weekend lunch program at St. Aidan Anglican Church.
Jennifer Angus, executive director of MJTH, said it’s amazing that the two organizations chose Transition House because it showed how much they cared about the community and the women, children, and families who access the shelter.
Moreover, she appreciated the awareness happening through the fundraiser. In particular, Angus liked how the goal was to “make a house a home” and ensure women who use the shelter feel at ease while there.
SaskWater and Co-op support MJTH regularly throughout the year, with the former running promotions and offering grant programs, while the latter donates leftover bread weekly, participates in the White Ribbon campaign, hosts cookie sales and provides board members, she continued.
The shelter expects the floor project to cost $13,000, while anything raised above that will support upgrades to other infrastructure, such as electrical, plumbing and “pretty old” furnaces, Angus said.
The furnaces alone will cost $20,000, while other appliances are expected to cost thousands of dollars.
“You know, we’re always replacing our appliances … . When you have a hundred-plus women and children who come into the house every year, that’s a lot of laundry that gets done,” Angus added.
Michaela Turner, marketing manager at Moose Jaw Co-op, said Project Shine’s return was exciting because it had grown and expanded, which would make it even better than last year.
“Transition House is such an important group for us. They’re a partner in our community, and it’s such a great cause that we really want to do a great job supporting them,” she continued.
Turner explained that when she and Courtney Mihalicz, manager of corporate communications at SaskWater, created Project Shine, they chose the sun for a logo because — as an acronym — it stood for strengthen, unite and nurture (SUN).
Those are characteristics they wanted to support in the community, so — besides St. Aidan’s food program — they chose MJTH because it focused on housing and supporting women, children, survivors, families and others facing trauma and crises.
“We’re really excited that it was such a hit last year that we were able to do it again for another year … ,” Mihalicz said. “So far, we’re a week in, and the results are really good. The community is really coming together.”
Project Shine is one major project in which SaskWater invests in Moose Jaw, while it also makes annual donations to the food bank and health foundation.
Mihalicz added that Co-op and SaskWater will also be collecting household items and hygiene products for the shelter.
The initial fundraising goal was $10,500, but both organizations realized they could probably reach $13,000 easily, while anything raised over that would be even better, said Turner. She noted that Project Shine could make a big difference if community groups, corporations, organizations and businesses supported this initiative.
Turner commended MJTH for having a dedicated group of employees who are often visible in the community and for having a downtown office that raises awareness of the shelter and related services. She also lauded Angus for being a strong leader who makes a difference in women’s lives in Moose Jaw and area.
