Women's shelter executive director Natasha Carvalho and Leon's manager Trina Towner pose with a donation of more than $6,500 toward the shelter's capital plan.--Submitted Photo
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat’s Leon’s Furniture store has made the renovations at the Phoenix Emergency Shelter that much closer to being fully realized, with a $6,557.50 donation to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society’s capital plan.
The idea for the fundraiser started last summer, said store manager Trina Towner.
“I try every year to do something community orientated to one of the local, you know, bigger organizations,” said Towner, who continued to say that last year, they had donated a large freezer to the Root Cellar, after running a food drive to fill it, as well. “I’ve already got thoughts in my head for next year.”
The donation was largely made possible by Leon’s customers, says Towner.
“For the months of November and December, we decided that we wanted to help the women’s shelter with their project. So with the help of our customers, we were able to raise a little over $6,500,” said Towner, explaining that customers were offered a discount in exchange for making a donation, though some chose to donate without even making a purchase.
A donation jar was also present at their customer appreciation event, which raised $350 alone.
“It was pretty cool, actually, to hand over that giant check,” said Towner. “It kind of gave me goosebumps, to give $6,500 and change to them. That felt pretty good, you know, that we can hopefully make an impact for a cause that really matters to this community.”
