Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/198486
d Chances Both women are in their 60s and retired, with backgrounds in human resources and speech therapy, respectively. They are longtime friends, and enjoy reading, gardening and spending time with family and friends. They also enjoy helping others in need. If you spend any time with this warm duo, they will instantly make you feel at home with their generous hearts and approachable personalities. After that cold night in January, several weeks passed and both women started to notice more news about the issue of sex-trade workers in BC. They learned about their vulnerability, and wanted to help. "We couldn't shake the idea [of] how awful it must be to work in those conditions," says Kompauer. The duo approached the Surrey Urban Mission (SUM Place), where Kompauer is a volunteer, about what they could do. SUM Place offered the two some free space. They then heard about the Oak Avenue Neighbourhood Hub in Surrey, a Vancouver Foundation Neighbourhood Small Grants program partner. The program provides small grants to local residents for ideas to help connect and engage their neighbours. The ladies applied for a grant to start a women's drop-in program and were awarded the largest grant possible – $1,000. Fall 2013 I Vancouver Foundation l page 21 p20-23 Whalley Drop-In.indd 21 13-10-11 1:34 PM