On September 26, Maison Interlude House (MIH) announced the beginning of its annual fundraising campaign to a crowd in Alexandria.
MIH’s co-presidents, Lachlan McDonald, Mayor of South Glengarry, and Lisa Deacon, councillor in Russell, presented attendees with the vitality of their fundraising project through a slide presentation and marketing video. In 2023, 70 women and 33 children had stayed at the shelter, a troubling increase of 75 per cent from the previous year.
Sadly, because of the limited space, MIH unfortunately had to turn away 72 women in the past year.
“What happened to these women?” Muriel Lalonde, MIH Executive Director posed to the group, “Chances are they stayed with their abuser.”
MIH has provided services for over 40 years and aims to continue serving the women and children in their community. Every year there are over 500 women that have been helped by its outreach services in Prescott-Russell and Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry. At this time, the MIH’s Maison de 2e Étape (Second Stage Housing) project has received no confirmation of funding from either the provincial or federal governments.
“This is everyone’s responsibility.” McDonald said.
To fund the $12 million project, MIH is coordinating an event for December 6 at the Bonnie Glen Pavilion in Alexandria. The fundraiser will begin at 5:30 pm and includes a meal, a performance by Eastern Ontario artist, Tara Shannon, followed by a silent auction and raffles. Tickets are now on sale and are priced at $150 each. Cash donations are always welcomed.
The project’s goal is to construct a 35-unit building. Of the new units to be built, 13 will be solely reserved for women victims of violence. As MIH received 8,678 requests for help or information, provided 4,181 hours of counselling, and had 848 women use their outreach services last year alone, the shelter’s work demonstrates the need for such services in local communities.
Deacon closed with, “We don’t want a world where women are protected by men, but we need a world where women don’t need to be protected by men… we should think about what we can do to help this organization and movement.”
To purchase tickets for the fundraiser in December, visit the organization’s website at www.minterludeh.ca.
Every 11 days in Ontario, a woman or child is killed by a man close to them; in Canada, a woman is killed by her partner or ex-partner every 6 days. As an important reminder, if you need help, please contact MIH, at any day or time, using the contact information below:
Call: 1-800-461-1842
Text: 613-801-8169
Or visit: www.pasbienpr.ca
