250.542.1122 Transition House. Help is available 24/7 (Including Holidays)

Archway Society selected as a Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie charity recipient

by | Nov 14, 2024 | Events, News

Tim Hortons second-annual Holiday Smile Cookie campaign is returning from Nov. 18 to 24 with 100 per cent of proceeds donated to local charities and community groups, including Tim Hortons Foundation Camps.

Last year, Tims guests helped raise $9.8 million through the inaugural Holiday Smile Cookie campaign. The Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie is a delicious white chocolate sugar cookie infused with red and green sprinkles and hand-decorated with a white icing smile face.

This year, we’re very proud to announce that Archway Society for Domestic Peace has been selected as a recipient of Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie fundraiser! From Nov. 18 to 24, 100 per cent of proceeds from each Holiday Smile Cookie sold at a Vernon or Lumby Tim Hortons will help to support Archway Society and Tim Hortons Foundation Camps.

Unfortunately, violence against women is far more common than we realize— two in five Canadian women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Many may not know that a friend, neighbour or coworker could be affected by domestic violence, as 80 per cent of intimate partner violence cases continue to go unreported.

While many communities across Canada are experiencing a significant spike in intimate partner violence since 2020, shelters across the country lack adequate funds to support the high number of women and children escaping domestic violence.
The number of women and children served by our Transition House increased 62% since the last fiscal year. 226 women were served for a total of 3056 night stays, with 113 children served for a total of 2240 night stays.

Organizations like Archway Society for Domestic Peace help women who experience intimate partner violence, providing life-saving services such as safe shelter (transition house program), counselling, Justice advocacy, child and youth advocacy, outreach services, and collaborative community projects. Our agency is invaluable in the community, providing support and counselling through 18 programs across 6 locations in the North Okanagan, designed to assist women, children and families in need.

Sweeten Your Coffee Breaks
Imagine the joy of sharing delicious Smile Cookies with your team, paired perfectly with your coffee. Not only will you be enjoying a treat, but you’ll also be spreading smiles within your organization and throughout our community.

How to Get Involved
• Bulk Orders: Make it a group effort by placing a bulk order for your team or organization. It’s a great way to foster team spirit while supporting a worthy cause.
• Spread the Word: Encourage your colleagues, friends, and family to participate. The more cookies sold, the greater the impact we can make together.
Click here to download a fillable bulk cookie order form that can be emailed to your favourite local Tim Hortons (locations and email addresses are on the form)

For more information email engagement@archwaysociety.ca or call 250-309-8401

Women Come Together at Black Dress Gala

by | Jun 17, 2024 | News

Over 270 women came together on May 25 for the 2024 Black Dress Gala presented by Nixon Wenger, held for the first time since 2019. The fundraiser, held at the Coldstream Community Hall, was a celebration of empowering women in the North Okanagan Community.
Thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, businesses who donated auction items and the individuals who attended the event, over $38,000 net was raised for Archway Society’s community programs, supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
“This funding will allow us to continue to provide community programs that allow for accessible and free counselling for women, children and families, outreach services for women in rural areas, victim support through the justice system and advocacy services for children and youth who have been abused or neglected.” Says Sherry Demetrick, Co-Executive Director of Archway Society.
The Black Dress Organizing Committee would like to extend a thank you to all the event sponsors, as well as the volunteers who worked extremely hard to make the evening a success. “This event is a big undertaking, but it is truly an amazing night of women coming together to support, encourage, inspire, and learn from each other and most important, look out for one another.” adds Demetrick.

Key messages:
• Archway Society relies on the financial support of the community to carry out our mission, support our clients and create positive change in our community. They allow the Society to develop, implement and sustain the programs, which are all free and open to anyone who needs support.
• Donations and fundraising are a crucial part of how we can ensure long-term sustainability of our Society and allow us to plan for the future, expand our reach and scale for impact in our community.
• If you’re in an abusive relationship, the risk of lethal violence increases during or just after a woman has left an abusive partner, therefore planning for safety is critical. A personalized safety plan is a practical plan that includes ways to remain safe while in a relationship, planning to leave, or after you leave. Our trained staff can help in creating an individual safety plan.
• We want to ensure that no one who is experiencing violence lacks the resources or ability to be safe and to access our support. We can be privately and securely contacted via phone, email, and social media, and encourage anyone who wants information about their options, support or immediate help should reach out to us.