A Call for Compassion: Sendero clients desperately need your help

At the Sendero Centre, we’ve always been guided by a singular mission: to offer hope, healing, and vital resources to those navigating the challenges of sexual trauma, abuse, and violence. This mission remains unwavering. But today, we’re reaching out to our community with an urgent plea for support. In 2024 alone, the Sendero Centre served an astounding 26,204 individuals across our programs—spanning child and adult counselling, police and court support, and education services.

Every one of these services has been offered free of charge, ensuring that no barrier stands between those in need and the care they deserve.

Yet, despite the growing demand for our services, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Due to a significant funding shortfall, we’ve had to take the difficult step of reducing staff hours. While we’re fortunate that this change will not impact client care, it’s a clear signal of how critical the situation has become.

Sendero clients desperately need your help, without immediate action, we face the possibility of altering the very foundation of our work—moving away from free services that have been a lifeline for so many. This is a future we are determined to prevent, but we cannot do it alone.

How You Can Help: Be a Champion of Respect

We are looking for compassionate individuals, organizations, and businesses to partner with us through donations or program sponsorships. Your support can make an incredible difference in ensuring our programs remain accessible and impactful. Here are some of the opportunities to get involved:

• Donate Child and Adult Counselling Hours:  Help sustain child or adult counselling services, offering individuals the professional support they need to heal and rebuild their lives. Donate one time, or set up a reoccurring donation. Donation Amount: $50 -$200
  

• Sponsor Our 24-Hour Support Line: Keep this lifeline available for anyone in crisis, ensuring that help is just a phone call, text, or webchat away. Sponsorship Amount: $ 5,000 / Year
  

• Contribute to Play Therapy: Foster healing and emotional growth for children who need it most through our dedicated play therapy programs. Donation Amount: $50 -$1,000
  

• Empower Education and Awareness: Sponsor our education programs that reach schools and communities, raising awareness and building safer environments. Sponsorship Amount: $5,000 / Year
  

• Fuel Community Impact: Help us maintain and expand our Community Impact and Education vehicle, bringing resources and training directly to where our education teams is needed. Sponsorship Amount: $2,000 / Year
  

The Ripple Effect of Your Support

Every dollar donated, every hour sponsored, and every ounce of support creates a ripple of hope that touches countless lives. By joining hands with us, you’re not only making a direct impact on those we serve—you’re also strengthening the very fabric of our community, ensuring that respect, safety, and healing are within reach for everyone.

At the Sendero Centre, we believe in the power of community. Together, we can overcome this moment of adversity and continue to stand as a pillar of support for all Central Albertans. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to make a donation, please contact Christi calbers-manicke@senderocentre.ca. Your compassion today can shape a brighter tomorrow for so many.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Together, we can ensure that no one walks this path alone.