It's a busy time for the 25 volunteers who are participating in the annual agency review process.  These dedicated individuals are reviewing applications, meeting with agencies and recommending how to invest the money that was raised in our community.   

Thank you for helping!

Judy realized that she could no longer live a life being a victim of domestic violence and wanted a better life for herself and her one year old son; she lived in a rural community not too far from Red Deer.  She explained to the intake worker that she was broken, emotional and alone.  She felt she had nowhere to go because she had no family or friends to stay with or support her. 

After leaving her violent home, Judy and her son resided at an emergency shelter.  She was having a difficult time finding housing in her small community with no source of income.  Judy lived in constant fear that if she wasn't able to find housing, she would have to send her son back to live with his father.  Judy knew she couldn't go back because of the abuse but she was struggling with being homeless and the affect that was having on her son.  Although she wanted to live a life free from violence and provide for her son, the situation seemed impossible and was increasing her stress and anxiety.

Judy worked intensively with her caseworker for about three months and finally her housing stabilized; the stress of thinking she would have to return her son or even go back to an abusive situation is no longer an option. 

Here's the gang from Studon posing with our Superhero cutouts. One thing that we won't miss is bringing these cutouts to all of our events this year, they are heavy!

We're wondering if anybody wants these for their office?  The only catch - you have to pick them up yourself! 

By investing in children with preventative initiatives like Education we can save money down the road on intervention. Every $1 spent on child care there is a $2 economic benefit.

- provided by Tamara Sawatzky, United Way practicum student