Love Well Women’s Drop-in Centre moves into space in Altona Bergthaler Church
The Love Well Women’s Drop-in Centre in Altona has found a new home.
The founders of the centre had been searching for a new place after having to vacate their former location last month.
Gaetene Reimer and Robyn Sierks are delighted that the Altona Bergthaler Church stepped forward with an offer to have them temporarily use its youth building.
“We’re very thankful to them for offering us the use of this space,” said Sierks, adding that the ladies who access the drop-in are excited and have been helping them clean up and move in. “Whole families showed up to help us move. This is love in action.”
A group of ladies even held a fundraiser recently to offset moving costs. The concert at the Commons Barn in Neubergthal was a sold-out crowd.
“They raised $1,500. It was just incredible. Everyone’s been so helpful and good to us,” Reimer says.
“We’re so glad we didn’t have to shut down,” adds Sierks. “We’re not having to put things into storage and stopping our programming. It’s very important to continue the momentum that we have going. We’re all very excited to be here.”
The move, however, does mean a few changes to how the centre will operate for the time being. It is now open from 1-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Thursdays, and on Fridays from 1-4 p.m. Their regular Wednesday evening Craft Cafe has moved to Thursdays.
Reimer says they couldn’t be happier with this partnership with the church.
“They’ve been so gracious in letting us use everything. We’ve got a really nice, well-lit seating area and a table and chairs, and a coffee bar. They’ve also opened the games room in the basement for us to use, so we’ve got ping pong, air hockey, billiards. So, if women want to come and play some games and talk, it’s great for that. And now we have more parking.”
Terrell Wiebe, associate pastor at the church, says the space will continue to be used for the church youth a few times during the week.
The lower level was formerly used by the Rhineland Food Bank.
“When they moved out of here two years ago, we got the full space, but we haven’t used it to its full potential, but now it will be,” Wiebe says. “It’s great to have an opportunity for women to get together in a faith environment.
“I heard about some of the things they do at the centre, and I thought it sounds like a fun place. We’ve been
