Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health launches national Giving Shelter campaign to help women rebuild lives free from abuse
TORONTO, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In Canada every five minutes a woman experiences intimate partner violence1, yet approximately 700 women and children are turned away from shelters each day.2 These stark realities underscore the urgent need for safe spaces and resources for women experiencing abuse.
This September, join Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health™ in supporting more than 300 women’s shelters and programs across Canada by donating to the Giving Shelter campaign. Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® stores nationwide are raising funds for local organizations to help women and children find safety and take steps toward a life free from abuse.
“Gender-based violence is far more prevalent in Canada than many people realize,” says Paulette Minard, Director of Community Investment and Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health. “This is a national issue and Giving Shelter is a national campaign, but the funds raised stay within the local community, giving Canadians an opportunity to help neighbours and friends who may be fleeing violence.”
From now until October 9, customers can participate in the fundraising campaign by rounding up their purchase total at checkout at any Shoppers Drug Mart or Pharmaprix store across the country. One hundred percent of donations remain in the communities where they are raised, helping local organizations provide women and children with the safety, services and resources they need.
“Safety changes everything. When a woman experiencing abuse reaches out for help, she needs to know there is somewhere safe to turn,” says Kim Ruse, CEO of FearIsNotLove, one of the local charities being supported this year. “Giving Shelter is more than a fundraising campaign - it is our community saying that violence in our homes matters, and that no woman or family should face it alone. Through Giving Shelter, we can come together to provide the support women and families need to move toward safety and healing, and ultimately a life free from violence and abuse.”
This year’s campaign will also offer Canadians a special opportunity to make their support go even further. From September 25 to 27, Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health will match funds raised through in-store round up and online donations, up to a total of $150,000, helping generate even more support for local women’s shelters and programs.
To donate or to learn more about Giving Shelter, visit shoppersfoundation.ca.
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1 Statistics Canada, The Daily Trends in police-reported family violence and intimate partner violence in Canada, 2025
2 Women's National Housing and Homelessness Network, Global News, November 2024
About Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health™
Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health™ – the charitable arm of Shoppers Drug Mart® – is committed to helping Canadian women lead healthier lives, by making care more equitable and accessible. In 2022, the Foundation set an ambitious goal: to contribute $50M by 2026 towards women’s health initiatives that are making care more equitable and accessible. This milestone has been surpassed, ahead of schedule, and Shoppers Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to build a future in which more women in Canada can lead healthier lives." Learn more at shoppersfoundation.ca.
About Shoppers Drug Mart Inc.
Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart® (Pharmaprix® in Québec). With more than 1,350 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The company also licenses or owns more than 150 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy® (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé® in Québec). In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities and Lifemark Health Group, Canada’s leading provider of outpatient physiotherapy, massage therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, mental health, and other ancillary rehabilitation services. Shoppers Drug Mart® is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.
For all media inquiries, contact: pr@loblaw.ca.
