Giving back starts closest to home, and for Friesens, that means putting the power of generosity directly into the hands of our employee-owners. Through our Employee-Directed Giving Campaign, our employees chose local organizations that matter to them and to the communities where we live and work. This year, one of those organizations was the Altona & Area Family Resource Centre (AAFRC).
Recently, Friesens was proud to present a cheque for $2,740 to the AAFRC, supporting their ongoing work with families and young children across the region.
Friesens’ Employee-Directed Giving Campaign is built on a simple idea: the people who work here know their communities best. By empowering employee-owners to direct charitable funds to causes they care about, donations go where they can have a real, meaningful impact close to home.
For the AAFRC, that support helps strengthen programs that encourage connection, learning, and belonging for families with children under the age of five.
A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES GROW TOGETHER
The AAFRC is not a daycare, explains Coordinator Nina Edbom-Kehler, but a welcoming space where children attend programming WITH the important adults in their lives.
“All of our programming is parent and child,” said Edbom-Kehler. “Parents, grandparents, caregivers…they’re with the children the whole time. It’s about learning and growing together.”
From weekly drop-in programs to literacy-focused initiatives like Rock and Read, physical literacy sessions in the school gym, and hand-on activities such as Mini Chefs, the Centre supports families in many different ways. Take-home activity kits also help families who might not be able to attend programs regularly, giving them ready-to-use activities that encourage quality time at home.
“We try to make it easier for families,” Edbom-Kehler says. “The supplies are there. The ideas are there. Parents don’t have to go searching online and feel overwhelmed.”
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
At the heart of everything the AAFRC does is connection: between parents, children, and the broader community. “When families feel supported early on, that’s huge,” explains Edbom-Kehler. “Those children grow into community-minded, contributing members of society. Even if we can help just one family feel connected, that’s all that matters.”
She notes that families often arrive shy or unsure, especially if they’re new to the area. “You’ll see them sit quietly at first. But they keep coming back. And eventually they’re making playdates, grabbing coffee together…that’s the community piece. That’s why we do what we do.”
The Centre also recognizes that parents, especially moms, can feel isolated during the early years of raising children. Recently the AAFRC has expanded programming that supports parents themselves, creating space for conversations about mental health, parenting challenges, and self-care.
“We want parents to know they matter too,” says Edbom-Kehler. “Parenting is hard. There’s no manual. But when you realize you’re not alone, that makes a big difference.”
HOW EMPLOYEE GIVING MAKES AN IMPACT
Unlike restricted funding that must be spent on specific items, the donation from Friesens gives the AAFRC the flexibility to support what they need most…people.
“Honestly, unrestricted funds like this are incredible,” Edbom-Kehler shares. “We have toys. We have markers. What we really need is people…staff who can welcome families, build relationships, and create that sense of belonging.”
That human connection is what turns programs into lifelines for many families.
Supporting organizations like the Altona & Area Family Resource Centre reflects Friesens’ long-standing commitment to community involvement and employee-led giving. Friesens is proud to stand alongside the organizations that help our communities thrive, whether it’s through financial contributions, donated materials, or simply spreading the word.
Through initiatives like the Employee-Directed Giving Campaign, we’re reminded that when employees come together around shared values, small acts of generosity can create a lasting impact right here at home.
