A new shop will soon be opening its doors in Langford, in hopes of helping more women in the West Shore and the rest of the region.
“We’re really excited,” said Victoria Women in Need Community Co-operative (WIN) executive director, Clare Yazganoglu. “We’ve been wanting to expand to the West Shore and Langford for a long time now.”
WIN operates with the mission of creating real opportunities for local women and their families to be self-sufficient and employed through a number of programs. It works to assist them from a time of crisis to a time of self-reliance and wellness.
To do this, the non-profit organization operates several resale stores that not only provide services for the women they aid, but fund (along with financial donations) the programs and services WIN offers.
“We’re totally self-sustaining,” Yazganoglu said.
One of those programs gives women gift certificates to spend at the resale stores to help them purchase items they may need to get back on their feet.
“We work with over 15 program partners to issue those gift certificates,” she added.
Other programs provide women with items to furnish their new living spaces, work to set achievable goals, and provide funding for further education or other self-development. On average, WIN helps 1,000 women every year.
By opening a location on the West Shore, Yazganoglu said, it will give more accessibility to some of their clients and partners, even those in Sooke.
“It’ll just be much closer,” she said.
The Langford location, opening Jan. 18 at 129-735 Goldstream Ave. near Darcy’s Pub, will be the fourth store for the non-profit and will have a variety of items for sale including clothing, accessories, jewelry, collectable items, books and electronics. The location will not be selling furniture due to space limitations.
It is also those space limitations that will restrict the store from accepting any donations, Yazganoglu said. “For now our plan is to bring our truck out … and accept donations that way.”
While they are still working away to stock the store before opening the doors, she is positive the space will flourish with the support of the West Shore community.
“I think it’s an opportunity to expand our programs … We’re thinking about what new program partners we can work with.”
By having a storefront in the local community, she said, it will make it that much easier to develop partnerships and expand services on the West Shore.
To mark the opening, the newest WIN resale store is holding a grand opening day on Thursday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
For more information about WIN services and programs go to womeninneed.ca.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com