Image: M. Vaden Bosch / PML

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Ann Davis

Drive-thru breakfast funds Ann Davis Transition Society in Chilliwack

Jul 5, 2022 | 5:00 AM

CHILLIWACK — The need for Thursday’s (Jun. 30) drive-through breakfast fundraiser for the Ann Davis Transition Society has never been greater.

Patti MacAhonic, executive director of the society, says both transitional houses operated by the society are at capacity. Demand for services at Ann Davis are at an all-time high. Women seeking shelter had to be turned away last year. There’s even a waitlist for clinical counseling services available through the society. Anger management classes for men are currently running double.

“Our numbers are up really high,” MacAhonic said. “The domestic violence numbers have increased ever since the pandemic began. Our crisis calls went up 43.7 per cent during the pandemic and they haven’t gone down. We don’t have any more resources to deal with; we just have more need in the community.”

Some of those needs stem from financial stressors faced by Canadians in the form of higher gas and grocery prices, not to mention unaffordable housing in Chilliwack. The average price of a Chilliwack home sold in May 2022 was $819,250. Stress can manifest in volatile home environments.

“Because of the pandemic, people were closed in,” MacAhonic said. “Finances were tight, people were stressed out, and now we’re facing financial concerns. Groceries and gas are up, we have absolutely crazy affordable housing here in Chilliwack, so these are stressors on families. It can look like family dysfunction and abuse in the home.”

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Ann Davis Transition Society assists women who aspire to live free from all types of abuse. When clients come into contact with the organization, the society empowers them with goal planning and safety measures. It gives women fleeing violent environments more options and resources at their fingertips.

During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when people were staying at home and sheltering in place, the society still put out countless support calls to check on their vulnerable clients.

The drive-through breakfast at Elements Casino raised just under $10,000 thanks to the generosity of local businesses Elements Casino, Hofstede’s Country Barn, Save-on Foods, Starbucks, Envision Financial, Mountainview Harley-Davidson, and Chilliwack Electric, just to name a few. Personnel from Chilliwack Fire Department handed out the breakfast items and RCMP volunteers assisted with traffic control. Kelli Paddon, MLA for Chilliwack-Kent, and Dan Coulter, MLA for Chilliwack, also joined the festivities. 89.5 The Drive, now known as 89.5 JR Country, was one of the media sponsors.

“It was a wonderful event,” MacAhonic said. “We had lots of support in the community. A lot of people came together to make something like this happen.”

People can still support the work of Ann Davis online at www.anndavis.org and click the donate headline at the top, where they’ll be redirected to a Canada Helps donation webpage.

Women facing violent or abusive situations can call the Ann Davis Transition Society’s 24-hour helpline at 604-792-3116 or 604-391-1993, or by text at 604-819-3557.