An area community group is planning to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) by giving a big boost to a local organization that provides vital support to women in need.
Leslie Anne Hook, founder of Urban Runaway, tells Oldies that when she gathered with members of Urban Runaway to chat about plans for IWD, Bernadette McCann House (BMH) was mentioned several times for the vital support if offers the community.
BMH provides information, safety and support to women and children who have experienced domestic violence.
Hook said that prior to moving to Arnprior she and her husband David were stationed in Petawawa, where she became aware of Pembroke-based BMH and the important work it does.
And so, Urban Runaway will host a Supply Drive for Bernadette McCann House on Friday, March 8 at the Nick Smith Centre in Arnprior.
Urban Runaway was created in 2020 during the pandemic as a way to connect people and a big part of the initiative is about creating safer communities through friendship and community-uniting initiatives and that’s what this event is all about, said Hook.
“So the idea of Urban Runaway is creating community groups and events that support one another and a big focus is women’s initiatives and so we’re having a reception that has 50 local women attending and when we were talking about different organizations that are known in the Ottawa Valley, Bernadette McCann House came up a number of times and so that’s what we’ve decided to focus on,” said Hook.
“The idea just kind of came to me when I saw their wish list online. I was like ‘We can do something with that,’” said Hook. “What we’re doing is we’re collecting household items, personal items and food items for a supply drive and then we’re going to deliver them to the people at Bernadette McCann House so that they can have access to a good supply of items.”
Some of the top things on the wish list are: household items like hand soaps, toiletries, feminine products, personal items like deodorant, toothpaste and then food items so things like cereal, juice boxes, pastas, things like that and also, not expired goods or anything that’s open.
“They pretty much appreciate anything that you would think of that you could use if you were in a situation where you were rebuilding your home and trying to get settled,” said Hook.
The response to the supply drive so far has been quite overwhelming, said Hook, noting the event has gotten a lot of shares online, a lot of positive, uplifting comments and people wanting to get involved and engaged.
“So, we’re hoping for a really good turnout,” said Hook.
Donations can be dropped off at the Nick Smith Centre (77 James St, Arnprior) from 9 a.m. to 4.p.m.
For more details on the event visit ‘Supply Drive for Bernadette McCann House’ on Facebook.
Along with a 16-bed emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis/support line, BMH runs a number of programs, groups and workshops. For more information, visit wsssbmh.org/en.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)