Twenty Kamloops families will receive a little extra help from the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter, thanks to a collaboration between BCLC, the Kamloops Blazers and members of the Kamloops community.
On February 8, Blazers game attendees braved freezing temperatures to bring donations to Sandman Centre for the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter’s start-up baskets — which include essential household items, like can openers, cutting boards, toiletry items and cleaning materials. In total, 20 families will receive baskets from the game-night donations, making a big difference as they transition into their new homes.
“We were thrilled to support the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter at Saturday’s game through our partnership with the Kamloops Blazers,” said Ann Newman, manager of Partnerships and Community Investment at BCLC. “As the title sponsor of the game, we wanted to amplify our community impact through the creation of the Y’s start-up baskets. The Kamloops community showed up in a big way to help us to make a difference in the lives of those supported by the Y – a perfect example of our social purpose goal of creating win-wins for the greater good.”
The Y Women’s Emergency Shelter is a vital non-profit in the Kamloops community, providing unwavering support to those in need. In 2024 alone, they responded to over 2,500 crisis calls and provided shelter to more than 310 women and 37 children. The start-up baskets are just one support they provide to women and children to help make the transition easier as they begin a new chapter in their lives.
“We are filled with gratitude from the support shown by the Kamloops community who came together last weekend to provide a little extra help for women and children starting over,” said Jacquie Brand, manager of the Violence Against Women Intervention and Support Services at the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter. “The start-up baskets really make a big difference in the lives of those we support and we’re so appreciative of BCLC and the Kamloops Blazers for partnering together to raise awareness and bring in donations at Saturday’s game.”
BCLC has been supporting the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter through its employee-selected charities of choice program since 2021 and was able to extend its support through this partnership with the Kamloops Blazers and from the support of the wider Kamloops community – a win-win for everyone involved.
“Saturday’s game was a true testament to the unwavering commitment Blazers’ fans have to our Kamloops community,” said Stacy Keen, sales account executive at the Kamloops Blazers. “We are so pleased to have partnered with BCLC to support the Y and the women and children it supports.”
BCLC has been a part of the Kamloops community since 1985. In 2023/24, we directly sponsored 25 organizations in Kamloops that work to bring people together and enhance the quality of life within our community. In addition, revenue generated by BCLC goes back to the Province of B.C. which distributed $2.7 million in community gaming grants to 102 Kamloops not-for-profit organizations.
