With demand for services still surging and not expected to slow down anytime soon, the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) is setting an ambitious target for its latest fundraising campaign: $75,000 by Nov. 10.
The money will help Whistler’s social service provider continue to deliver its programs and services in support of Whistlerites, which focus on the areas of food security, mental health and wellness, and financial wellness.
“Society best operates in a reciprocal pattern. That is to say that when we support one person, we support the community, and vice-versa” said WCSS’ executive director Jackie Dickinson, in a release.
“Our collective mental health has never been more important, more in peril, nor more easy to support than it is today. Every dollar we raise through this annual call to the community is directed right back into programming that supports the community mental health for youth, family units, workforce, seniors, individuals, corporations and businesses, and our health-care system.”
The Whistler Food Bank saw an astounding 13,633 visits in 2022, up from the previous record of 9,365 set in 2021. That’s compared to 5,782 visits in 2020; 3,005 in 2019; and 2,773 in 2018.
June 5 was the busiest day in the history of Whistler’s food bank. Over the course of three hours in the afternoon, the organization served food 141 times to 84 households.
Whistler Community Services Society’s outreach services, meanwhile, served an all-time high of 8,380 visitors seeking mental and emotional support in 2022, up from the previous record of 6,128 in 2021. The longer trends are not encouraging there, either—in the pandemic year of 2020, 4,922 accessed the services, up from 3,233 in 2019 and 2,040 in 2018.
“The pandemic showed us that we are better when we support one another and have a TOGETHER approach to community. Our ask is that we keep that going and that everyone who can, please donate to help us raise $75,000”
Donations can be made online using a credit card, via the donation of stocks or securities, or by cheque mailed to the WCSS offices.
Find more info at mywcss.org/fundraiser.
