Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter warns Calgarians to be aware of fraudulent fundraisers
Published: Nov 18, 2009
The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter is warning Calgarians to be wary of anyone going door-to-door soliciting donations on behalf of the Shelter. The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter recently received a call from someone who opened her door to a woman soliciting funds through the Shelter’s Wish Book.
The Wish Book is a catalogue of services that Calgarians can pay for on behalf of women and children, youth and men who access services for free to help them prevent and escape family violence.
“We recently mailed our Wish Book out to many Calgarians requesting their support,” says Lisa Falkowsky, Executive Director of the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter. “But we do not conduct door-to-door campaigns – no one should be knocking on your door asking you to support us.”
“This is a very important time for us, for two reasons. The majority of our donations come in over the holiday season. We don’t want generous Calgarians thinking they are supporting the thousands of people who come to us for help each year by giving money at the door that may not make it to those who really need it,” Lisa Falkowsky explained.
“And the second reason is that the need is so great. We hear from women every day who are working hard to build healthy relationships and the support we provide often affects their very survival.”
The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter provides services to approximately 12,000 people each year. These services are offered free of charge with over half of the organization’s funding received through donations by individuals and corporations and the remainder from a number of city and provincial agency funders.
To make a donation this season, Calgarians can see the Wish Book on the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter’s website – calgarywomensshelter.com -- or they can call the donations phone line at 403-539-5130.
Since 1974, the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter has changed the lives of more than 100,000 women and children, youth and men with family violence crisis support, counselling and prevention services. The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter services are free for clients; all of our services respect confidentiality and focus on individuals’ strengths; all of our services are working towards a vision of a society free from family violence.
Family Violence Helpline 403 234-SAFE (7233). Open 24 hours for counselling by phone, information or to get help. www.calgarywomensshelter.com
For more information, contact:
Erin Waite, Communications Manager
403 213-5166
erinw@cwes.ca
