The South Okanagan Women In Need Society (SOWINS) says it is seeing a high demand for services as it moves into one of its largest campaigns of the year.

With the Share the Spirit of Giving Campaign in full swing, SOWINS is asking for the community's support to help ensure the holidays are bright for its clients and their families.

鈥�2024 has proven to be as busy as 2023, particularly the need of our counselling services,鈥� states Liz Gomes, executive director of SOWINS. 

Demand for this service is so high, Gomes says, that the counselling team is struggling to keep pace.

The executive director added that many of the organization's clients are also facing food insecurity as the holiday season inches closer.

"Many of our clients are living pay cheque to pay cheque and are still unable to put food on the table for their children,鈥� Gomes said. 鈥淲e offer food and grocery gift certificates to help, but many women also access breakfast and brown bag lunch programs that will cease during the holidays with kids not in school.鈥� 

SOWINS 鈥� which has served women, children, youth, and families facing abuse and violence region-wide since 1981 鈥� issued a call this week for donations and family sponsors, as it moves into the Share the Spirit of Giving Campaign.

"We are in need of more sponsors right now, there are more families than sponsors this year,鈥� said Marni Adams, fund development advisor at SOWINS.

鈥淟ast year we raised much-needed funds, sponsored 109 families in need, and handed out 50 backpacks in the community and all of this was possible because of the generous support of our community.鈥�

People looking to help SOWINS clients and their families this holiday season are asked to visit , or contact Adams directly at fundraising@sowins.com.

The Penticton-based organization is coming off its inaugural fundraising gala, which was attended by more than 170 people at the city's convention on Nov. 2.