By Odessa Tapia

This is how we welcome people to our programs.
Each year just before Mother’s Day, we celebrate EFry Week. Also marked by societies across the country, EFry Week highlights the value of supporting women, girls and children at risk, involved in or impacted by involvement in the justice system. The events we hold shine a light on our collective ability to help change lives for the better and to recognize the contributions of our volunteers, donors, partners supporters and staff in achieving that goal. And, it’s a great way to have a fun, relaxing time with our clients.
We are inspired in all we do by our namesake, Elizabeth Fry, who saw the need for change and made it happen. We believe in women, in their value and their ability to move away from difficult pasts. Celebrating EFry Week gives us an opportunity to bring awareness to that belief.

Happy times at Sheena’s Place, our shelter for women and children.
Last week, in the Lower Mainland, we hosted a series of EFry open houses and BBQs at our residential programs. Staff and clients at each residence worked together, cooking for and welcoming the community, including our friends and partners from other organizations. These open houses allowed us to provide first-hand experiences of our programs that brochures and pamphlets can’t capture. The week was very busy with five sites in Surrey and Abbotsford holding their events on Wednesday, and our main building and administration office holding one big open house on “Fryday.”
There were so many successful programs to celebrate, the week expanded and one of our biggest events is happening this Thursday – our client appreciation BBQ at New Westminster’s Sapperton Park from 2-4. We’d love to have you join us!

Elise orienting our youngest Fryette to the front desk.

Mmmm. Cooking up some juicy burgers at Cynthia’s Place, our women’s shelter.

The lovely Doris giving a tour.

Eddy from Securiguard and Chase.

Richard T. Lee bringing us a certificate of congratulations on “Fryday”.