Thanks to “amazing support” from community groups and individuals, Arrowhead Clubhouse has received enough donations to stay open five days a week until the new year.
“It’s great news. It’s absolutely incredible how the community came through the way they did,” said Brian Smith, fundraising chair of the Arrowhead board of directors.
“I think the stories of our members were very powerful and made the difference. We have to give kudos to them for sharing because it’s quite difficult.”
Coast Reporter ran a story on May 26 about Arrowhead’s need to secure $15,000 more in funding to be able to stay open five days a week until the end of the year. In that story, clubhouse member Christie Peters talked about the importance of Arrowhead as a safe, supportive place for members dealing with mental health issues and how closing one day a week would be detrimental.
Over the next three weeks, community groups and individuals stepped up with the needed cash, and even gave a little more.
“It looks like we’ll be able to stay open five days a week, even into the new year, and that’s thanks to the amazing support of our local service clubs and individual people who chose to give,” Smith said.
The Sechelt Hospital Auxiliary, the Lions Club and the Gibsons and Sechelt Rotary clubs each gave thousands to help out, and individuals opened their wallets as well.
“We’re very thankful,” Smith said. “This gives members some security, which is wonderful because I know they had a lot of anxiety over the possibility of closing one day a week.”
Arrowhead Clubhouse is a safe, supportive place for adults with mental illness to gather weekdays in Sechelt. Find out more at www.arrowhead-clubhouse.org
