Sheway is a pregnancy outreach program located in Vancouver’s downtown eastside, providing health and social services to pregnant women and those with young children. For many, it’s a refuge for women and children struggling to cope with daily existence. However, until recently, Sheway simply didn’t have enough food for everyone.

Nutritious food is critical for ensuring the best outcomes for mother and child in high-risk pregnancies. No one understands that better than the staff at the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation of Canada. That’s why, in 2012, they reached out to help. Thanks to their generous $57,000 donation, all women at Sheway have access to fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese and milk for themselves and their families.

Thanks to a donation from the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation of Canada, women at risk have nutritious food to eat.

This gift of food has an even larger impact. Understandably, many of these women are initially reluctant to seek medical care or social services. They usually come from challenging or abusive backgrounds, with little trust in those around them. Providing free groceries helps Sheway develop supportive, trusting relationships with these young mothers, which in turn helps encourage them to access health care and other social services.

On behalf of the women and children who are being fed and cared for, we express our gratitude to the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation of Canada. In addition to their work with Sheway, they consistently demonstrate philanthropic leadership, compassion and care to thousands of people who receive excellent health care at our hospitals and through community services every day.

SHEWAY HELPS WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN NEED
Sheway, a Vancouver Community Health Services program, provides health and social service supports to women with infants under 18 months and high-risk pregnant women who are dealing with challenges relating to alcohol/drugs, homelessness, hunger, malnutrition, HIV, Hepatitis C, poverty and mental health problems.

Before Sheway was launched in 1993, approximately half of the babies in the Downtown Eastside were born substance-affected and one-third had low birth weight. Today most children born to women who have participated in Sheway have normal birth weight, and most new mothers are able to take their children home.