From left, Gerry Prince, Ryan Thorburn, Natasha Carvalho, Bruce Hill, Kathy Hill, Jayne Hale and Mayor Linnsie Clark pose for a group shot following a donation announcement of $292,000 from the LDS Church to the Medicine Hat women's shelter.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints met with the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society on Wednesday to present nearly $300,000 toward the shelter’s capital plan and ongoing renovations to the Phoenix Safe House.
A total of $292,000 was approved as part of a global initiative to support women and children, said Bruce Hill, Medicine Hat communications director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
“We believe that if you want global progress, you need to prioritize the well being of women and children, because when you bless a woman and her children, you bless her family, her community and the nation,” said Hill. The donation will go toward a variety of different purposes, including an education room, inter-faith room, community kitchen and several bedrooms.
Hill continued on to say that, having worked alongside executive director Natasha Carvalho in the past, he believes members of the LDS Church will be glad to know their donation will go to such an honourable initiative.
On the part of MHWSS society, Carvalho is overwhelmed and grateful for the generosity of the Church and the community at large. She says this contribution can cover significant work being done at the shelter, which will in turn bring them closer to building a space to better meet the community’s needs for years to come.
“Community stepping up is always so amazing to us. And when the church approached about this type of donation, we were really blown away that they had that kind of scope to provide this kind of amount of money to cover that many things,” said Carvalho. “So we’re really excited about being able to do that. It really means we can keep the doors open and fund this new renovation. So it’s a big blessing.”
Progress on amassing funds for the shelter’s capital plan has been slow but steady, Carvalho says, and a donation of this magnitude is a significant step toward that goal. She expressed thanks to the Church, as well as the community, which continues to help, especially during the Holiday Season, with projects such as Christmas hampers to support women and families in need.
“At this time of the year, when everybody is familiar with the story about there being no room in the inn, this comes at a good time,” said Hill. “I think it’s fitting and important for a community to support this cause; for women who are victims of family violence, I don’t think we should ever put them in a situation where there’s no room at the inn.”
