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Through a year dominated by a pandemic, women across southern Saskatchewan have stepped up to do their part in helping their communities and now YWCA Regina wants to honour them for that strength and resiliency.
Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina, has heard story after story of women in Regina and beyond working overtime at their frontline jobs while also finding a way to teach their children at home while schools were closed.
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By Drew Postey
Feb 19, 2021 3:28 PM
YWCA Regina is expecting 23 teams and 130 walkers to take part in the sixth annual Coldest Night of the Year walk on Saturday.
With COVID-19, this year’s event will be held virtually, with teams walking their own five kilometre routes.
The event raises money and awareness for Regina’s homeless, hungry and hurting, particularly women.
YWCA Regina CEO Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, said for women and children, homelessness can appear very different than it does for men.
“Most often it involves violence, it involves domestic dispute, and often times women don’t necessarily live on the streets, or we don’t see them panhandling, those are some of the things we think of when we think of homelessness,” Coomber-Bendtsen said. “Many times though they’re living in unsafe situations or are couch surfing.” she added.
(Lisa Schick/980 CJME file photo)
When the extreme cold hits, a place in North Central will provide warm drinks, warm clothes and most importantly, a roof for people caught without a home.
All Nations Hope Network and YWCA Regina have partnered to open a warming station on 5th Avenue near Elphinstone Street.
“People are at risk out in the cold. We need to answer the call and provide for them,” said Margaret Kîsikâw Piyêsîs, Finance and Research Director for All Nations Hope Network in a news release.
The shelter opened on Boxing Day, operating from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., staffed by All Nations Hope Network. YWCA provides diversion services to those who can use them.