SOS receives donation

By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Overnight Shelter (SOS) has received $1,000 from the Strathmore Wheatland Chamber of Commerce (SWCC), following their announcement as the recipient of the Non-Profit Business of the Year award.

The award came as part of the SWCC business excellence awards (BEA). The SOS had been nominated and subsequently voted in favour of receiving the award by the local community. 

Chair of the SWCC, Hayley Poirier, said the donation has been a recent addition to the BEA for the non-profit business of the year. 

“What we’ve been doing (for) the last few years at the BEA’s is, we’ve been inviting a local artist to come and paint live during the business awards,” explained Poirier.

“All of the donations from that painting then get donated to our non-profit business of the year. This year, (that is) the Strathmore Overnight Shelter.”

This year’s awards mark the third year the BEA has been able to make such donations to their award winners. 

Executive Director of the SOS, Elizabeth Karp, said the donation will certainly be of great help to the facility and the people who make use of it.

“I was saying, our utility bill alone last month was over $3,500, so just for that, but it also helps in all areas – in food, in keeping the shelter running, cleaning supplies and all those kinds of things. It’s a huge blessing,” said Karp.

“What’s really amazing about it is the community support, because that’s where it comes from. That’s what I really, really like and really appreciate.”

Karp added it felt like a blessing to have the local community behind her and supporting the SOS.

As far as feeding people alone is concerned, Karp explained meals per person typically cost between $6 – $10, which is stretched as far as possible by the team’s regular cook.

“If you think in terms of meals, it’ll go a long way, it’ll cover a lot of people. On Mondays and Thursdays alone, we do more than 20 loads of laundry, so that’s a lot of electricity, but it’s also a lot of laundry detergent and cleaning supplies,” said Karp.

“It helps to purchase some of the things we need like pillows and day to day things and just to keep everything clean and running smoothly.”

Karp also encouraged the local community to continue to keep an eye out for ways to support the SOS, as well as to think about volunteering.

“The shelter can’t run without volunteers and without that community support. It’s just key in whatever (we’re doing) and people are very giving in Strathmore, the surrounding area and even in Calgary.”