HOW DID SARA
MEASURE SUCCESS
THIS YEAR?
OUR PARTNERS
Heartfelt appreciation and thank you to our many
community partners who support us with time and
donations such as the South Abbotsford Church,
CFUW Abbotsford Soup Sisters and the Abbotsford
Kiwanis Club.
Over the course of the year women and men of
all ages committed their time, energy and money,
and made it possible for us to deliver programs and
services throughout Abbotsford and Mission.
49 women & 50 children
were housed in our secondstage housing.
1602 women & 1115
children stayed at our
transition houses.
94 women recieved pre/
post-natal support — that’s
over 30 more than the
previous year!
FIND US
Facebook: SARAForWomen.ca
Twitter @SARAforwomen
Visit our website SARAForWomen.ca
703 hours were spent
supporting children
who have witness abuse
(PEACE Program).
SARA responded to 32
calls from women in crisis.
9780 Women signed in
at the Warm Zone location
— over 600 more than
last year!
SARA facilitated 67
counselling groups and 1994
individual counselling hours.
With recent new hires, our
counselling programs will
continue to thrive.
SARA would like to thank all of our donors, volunteers & funders for making
it possible for us to continue to support women in our communities.
PRIM ARY FUNDERS:
33070 5th Avenue
Mission BC V2V 1V5
604.820.8455
2018 – 19 ANNUAL REPORT
SARAFORWOMEN.CA
SUPPORT / ACCEPTANCE / RESOURCES / ACTION SARA FOR WOMEN SOCIETY
In 2018/19, 2604 women
recieved assistance through
our referral and outreach
services with 5379 phone
calls responded. In 2017/18
we helped 2348 women
and responded to 4453
phone calls
DONORS
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SARA for Women is an organization that
supports women and children but we can only
do so with the support of others. We are very
fortunate to have the support of generous
donors who make gifts of money, time, goods,
and resources to benefit the women and
children we serve. We could not do what we do
without the generosity and commitment of our
many donors, both individual and corporate.
THANK YOU ALL!
In late August Jennifer Breakspear joined the
SARA for Women community as an interim
Executive Director. Jennifer has a long history
of leading significant non-profits in BC and
brings that experience and leadership to
support the SARA for Women team over the
next six months or so. You can read about her
experience and her commitment to the nonprofit sector at www.breakspear.ca.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
hundreds of hours in hands-on leadership,
regularly meeting with staff and managers,
making operations management decisions, and
quelling concerns both within and without the
organization in order that SARA would survive
and thrive. Rarely does a volunteer Board get
so intimately involved in the operations of an
organization the size of SARA but, when it was
necessary, this Board rose to the occasion.
Now that an interim Executive Director is in
place the Board members are happily returning
to their governance roles of oversight and
strategy. And they are prepared to stand again
and continue to serve SARA for Women. We
greatly appreciate our Board of Directors and
we ask you to join us in thanking them all.
The staff and volunteers at SARA for Women
are an exceptional group of humans who care
deeply for the individuals and communities whom
they serve. People who work at SARA are well
educated, well trained, and well known for their
heart-centered approach to their work. Whether
she is involved in providing shelter and housing,
counselling and support, outreach, our Fronya
Thrift Boutique, or administrative support for
the agency, every SARA staff member and
volunteer is committed to the safety, health,
and welfare of women and children. Sometimes
the work at SARA is difficult but it is always
rewarding. The last while has been a challenging
time for everyone at SARA but through it all our
communities have continued to be well served
by the SARA for Women staff and volunteers.
THANK YOU ALL!
The last year has been a particularly busy
one for the SARA for Women Board. The
organization was without an Executive Director
for many months and, in that period, this
incredibly dedicated group of caring, talented
women stepped up to guide and lead the
agency. Without their support SARA would
be facing a very uncertain future. Instead the
agency is strengthening and preparing for
growth. Our Board of Directors invested many
TRANSITION HOUSES
SANTA ROSA
THE WARM ZONE
STORE FRONT OFFICES
There are houses in Abbotsford and Mission
with a total of 22 beds for women/children who
are in crisis, escaping violence or who are at
great risk of being homeless.
A recently renovated historical building in
Mission that provides second stage housing
with 13 suites. Group programs and outreach
services support women as they work towards
independent living in the community of their
choice.
The drop-in centre provides a variety of
support and services to women who are socially
marginalized. Women who access services
could be homeless, active in the sex trade, and
struggling with addiction and mental health
issues.
PENNY ’S PL ACE
FRONYA THRIF T BOUTIQUE
The offices in Abbotsford and Mission are
places to come for support and to access a
variety of programs and services. Outreach
and information referral is delivered in real time.
Group sessions and one-on-one counselling
and group sessions are available to women and
children.
A low barrier house in Abbotsford that provides
communal shelter for six women who have been
homeless, struggle with mental health, and may
be active in their addiction.
A small social enterprise in Mission that
supports community members, raises revenue
for program delivery and provides job training
for women.
CHRISTINE L A MB RESIDENCE
A second stage 41 unit building for women in
Abbotsford that offers self-contained suites,
regular group programming and outreach
referral support. The tenants have fled violence,
homelessness and many have addiction and
mental health issues.
Betty Johnston
Corinne Molnar
Marlene Patterson
Pia Ritch
Grace Saris, Vice Chair
Donna Sawatzky, Chair
Liane Teubert