REGINA — A mother-daughter duo is raising money for the Regina Sexual Assault Centre as part of a May give-back challenge.
Cody Lloyd, and her daughter, Lily Martell, are part of a team at Session Studio raising funds for the organization.
Through a conversation with the team, the mother-daughter duo decided to do a bottle drive, hoping to raise $1,500 by the end of May.
“I started doing it four days, eight hours a day collecting bottles across the city,“ said Lloyd.
Lloyd said she co-ordinates with people around the city to pick up bottles, including pop cans, pop bottles, and more at given times.
”In this economy, people may not be able to provide a cash donation, but collecting bottles is a way they can impact a great cause.”
In one run, Lloyd can collect upwards of 600 bottles, which translates to almost $200 in cash through drop-offs at local SARCAN Recycling centres.
Her daughter, Martell, helps aid in the mission in any way she can.
Lloyd likes bringing Martell on these efforts because “it's important for kids to have the view of other people’s worlds and understand that they don't have access to things we may have.”
The fundraiser also coincides with Sexual Prevention Month, aiming to raise awareness about sexual violence while supporting survivors.
Lloyd said it’s likely everyone knows of someone who has dealt with sexual violence.
“There’s a lot of shame that comes with that, and our team felt connected in helping raise awareness and giving others courage to get the support needed,” she said.
Lloyd also teaches her kids the importance of consent.
“I’ll tell them you don’t have to hug people, and it doesn’t matter who it is. These really small conversations can start to build an understanding.”
At the time of the interview, the bottle drive fundraiser has raised over $1,300 and will likely surpass the $1,500 goal set.
Between the other teams, Lloyd hopes to see $10,000 raised towards the centre by the end of May.
“This effort has a tremendous impact on our organization, not just financially but really emotionally as well,” said Lisa Miller, executive director of the Regina Sexual Assault Centre.
Miller noted the centre receives 63 per cent of its yearly budget from the provincial government, with the rest coming from donations.
“We always have a considerable amount to make up for,” she said.
Miller said the centre is facing a six-to-nine-month backlog for some services and cannot expand due to a lack of sustainable funding.
This is causing people who were committed to getting help to no longer want it.
“It is discouraging for people, and I’ve had to take phone calls telling people, hearing the disappointment in their voices.”
Miller is encouraging more people and organizations to look at making a contribution to the centre.
