FORT FRANCES—The Atikokan Crisis Centre is hosting a free luncheon next week for all women interested in learning more about the centre, or in discussing issues of importance to women.
“We often hear that women in the west end of the district have difficulty accessing the services we provide,” said Donna Kroocmo, executive director of the ACC.
The purpose of the luncheon is to inform women of the various services the centre provides.
For example, in addition to offering an emergency shelter for battered women, the centre offers second stage housing for women and their children and counselling services for times of crisis, including sexual assault.
“They think they have to come in to the shelter. They don’t,” she noted.
Kroocmo said she’s unsure how many women will attend Wednesday’s luncheon, or whether they will be women seeking help or women working in social services.
“We don’t care if it’s clients or service workers,” she said, noting one of the goals is to determine how to better serve women in the district.
“We want to know what the needs are,” she added.
The Atikokan Crisis Centre is hoping to turn the luncheon into a monthly event where women can discuss issues such as date rape, health, intimate partner violence, how to recognize abuse in a friend or relative, or other issues of importance to the women attending.
“It could be a real start for the exchange of information and ideas,” Kroocmo said.
The women’s luncheon will be held Wednesday, Feb. 21 from noon-1 p.m. at La Place Rendez-Vous.
Women are encouraged to pre-register for the free luncheon by calling 1-800-465-3348, but drop-ins also are welcome.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)
