2023-09-16 19:02:37
A percentage of what is sold in the three bars and directly in the Festival Stages is given to the organization, as are all tips. In recent years, it represented $50,000 to $60,000, including revenue from International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) rodeos in May.
The Saint-Tite Western Festival allows Séjournelle to raise tens of thousands of dollars. (Amélie St-Yves)
From year to year, volunteers come back and there are more and more of them, according to the president of the Séjournelle Foundation, Claudiane Gélinas.
“For us, it is really important to continue our partnership with the Western Festival to continue to increase our services, and also increase the places we have available.”
In total, they participate in 18 events, including the midnight rodeo and the Tim McGraw show that opened the festivities.
“Our pay, for me, is the smile and the heart, then the fact of knowing that I can give to these women and these children,” mentioned Marie-Josée Mercier.
Gabriel Jochems, 20, started volunteering with his mother at the age of 13 for Séjournelle. The mother-son duo is always present.
“It’s still a big cause. This shouldn’t even happen. We shouldn’t need this, but we have to do it, so that’s all we can.”
New service
The money raised at the festival allowed Séjournelle to develop a community health office project, intended for women and children, which will be set up this fall.
There will be a nurse on duty as well as various partnerships with the health networks in a global health approach. The objective is in particular to build a bridge with traditional health services.
1694938280
#volunteers #abused #women
