Victim Services receive donation
Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter
The Wheatland Women Business Group donated stuffed animals to the Strathmore Regional Victim Services Society for the second year in a row. The stuffed toys are meant to give comfort in a time of need. The group supports different organizations throughout the community.
“You never know when you’re going to be the one Victim Services has to help. This is one we like to support because they do a lot of good in the community,” said Roseanne deBeaudrap, Communications Liaison for the group and owner of Roseanne’s Essential Massage. There are 36 members in the group and they support different initiatives around town.
Victim Services has been available for 13 years. Originally it was a phone crisis support, and has since evolved. The Strathmore office is located at the RCMP detachment, and they also serve Gleichen and Chestermere.
The stuffed toys are mainly for children. For adults there are quilts given out. Occasionally, though, an adult will take comfort in a stuffed animal.
“Some kind of a little bit of magic can help people in different spots,” said Lesley Hering, Assistant Coordinator of Victim services.
There are two paid employees with Victim Services, and there are 10 volunteer advocates. All volunteers are given extensive training in things such as domestic violence, sexual assault, suicides, next of kin notification and motor vehicle collision. Volunteers are on an on-call basis, and are expected to commit to two years.
“At the time of a crisis, is when we do most of our stuff,” said Hering. Victim services also help with court appointments, court preparations and even do court accompaniment. There is an application which victim services can provide for financial compensation for victims of violent crimes.
“We know about a lot of the services in town, so if you need something we can point you in the right direction,” said Hering.
They are a support system to those who are in a time of need, and 95 per cent of the referrals they receive are from the RCMP. Victim Services are always looking for more volunteers. All applicants must be an adult with a vehicle and go through an enhanced security check and a criminal reference check.