A group of eight volunteers from the RJC Calgary office recently spent three consecutive days cleaning, painting and outfitting a 2-bedroom suite at The Sonshine Centre. The centre provides second-stage shelter spaces for women and children fleeing domestic violence. This secure facility is located in a quiet neighbourhood, has easy access to schools, transit, and community programs.

The essential 24-unit facility offers a vast array of services to residents including:

  • Full year residential program
  • Quality, safe and low-cost housing
  • Individual counselling
  • Individual goal setting and mentoring
  • Life-skills groups
  • Art and fitness group activities
  • Parenting education
  • On-site child care
  • Counselling and play therapy for children
  • Access to resources such as healthcare, addictions services, peer support and legal support
  • ESL and language translation services as needed
  • Practical support such as help navigating government support services, grocery runs, etc.
  • Six months of follow-up counselling and support to safely transition back into the community after they leave Sonshine

When we heard the on-site pantries available to all residents were running low, RJC stepped up our efforts with a non-perishable food drive. In the end, not only were we able to fully re-stock the pantries, finding a place to put all the extras is now the challenge! 

Sonshine Centre Pantry

RJC is proud to sponsor a suite and to continue to aid in assisting women and children in need through this worthy program.