Being heavily reliant on outside funding and constantly subject to cutbacks, South Fraser Women’s Services Society is looking to take a stronger hold on its own future.
The non-profit organization – which provides resources, services and support to women – has created a business, and plans to put expected profits towards its programming.
“We decided that we needed to start looking at alternative sources of funding,” executive director Denise Darrell said. “We wanted to start having less reliance on government support.”
South Fraser Concierge consists of five professional women – with backgrounds that range from cleaning to home decorating to computers – who provide home, senior support and errand services.
“It’s meeting that gap for the isolated seniors or the professional whose busy,” Darrell said.
For $25/hour, they offer everything from house cleaning/sitting, basic gardening and organizing closets or garages to patient drop off/pick up for medical appointments, grocery shopping and meal preparation assistance.
“Concierge business means we can be whatever it is you need,” business development manager Lynn Sanderson said.
Since launching in January, the business has developed a regular customer base of 25-30 people.
About half are seniors, Sanderson, said, including a 92-year-old woman who staff visit three times a week. They take her on drives, make her lunch and clean her house.
“For seniors, it’s giving them the opportunity to live independently a lot longer.”
Darrell said South Fraser Concierge is just like any other business, with staff receiving livable wages and benefits.
Creating not just a profitable company, but a professional and sustainable one, was important to the society, Darrell said, which is why its board allocated funds to hire Sanderson.
For more than 30 years, the South Surrey resident worked in the retail business for large corporations such as Kmart and Zellers.
After taking early retirement, she started volunteering at SFWSS’s Women’s Place in May 2008.
“For the rest of my life I’d like to do something that makes a difference,” she said.
Upon taking on the business development manager role, Sanderson began working with a committee of seven women, all SFWSS volunteers. After considering a variety of ventures – from catering trucks to native art retail – they deemed a concierge service most profitable.
In the business’ three-year plan, a profit is expected to be earned within two years, Darrell said.
Net profits will go to “wherever we get cut and whatever program we need the most,” she added.
The society’s free legal aid program is currently the best candidate, she said, as it is now the only one of its kind outside Vancouver since a similar service in Surrey closed in March.
Darrell said the concierge business will put the society in a stronger financial position in the face of funding cuts.
“Our experience tells us that we can at any time lose financial support through cutbacks or even have contracts eliminated,” she said. “We as an organization have a responsibility to ensure we are not put in a vulnerable position; just as the women we serve need to create safety in their own lives, we are committed to developing businesses such as South Fraser Concierge to create safety for the health of our organization.”
A website for South Fraser Concierge – which also offers gift certificates – will launch within the next couple weeks.
For more information, visit sfwomensservices.com, email concierge@sfwomensservices.com or call 604-536-9611, ext. 223 or 604-828-0253.
Source: Peace Arch News