Victoria’s Island Sexual Health Community Health Centre (ISH) has announced that they are facing financial hardships and a lack of funding that could be detrimental to the services they offer.
ISH is a non-profit agency that has served the Greater Victoria, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands communities since 1969.
Initially, the organization operated as a part of Planned Parenthood, but became an independent society in 1986.
Through the years, they have provided clinical and education services to more than 20,000 people in Greater Victoria every year.
ISH operates a sexual health clinical care, primary care for priority populations, community education as well as a retail store that carries gender affirming apparel for all ages.
The organization has now revealed that they are struggling due to a lack of funding and have launched an online fundraising campaign through GoFundMe.
“Unfortunately, we are currently struggling financially to provide the care and education our community needs and deserves,” wrote ISH in a social media post.
“We’re humbly asking community members to support us in any way that they are able.”
ISH asks that those who cannot support the organization and their crucial services financially, share their struggles to help spread the word.
They say that without immediate support, ISH will be forced to cut, or even eliminate, vital clinical services for the thousands of patients who rely on them every year for their sexual and reproductive wellbeing.
Those that are able to donate will be provided a tax receipt with their donation.
Find out more and donate via the ISH GoFundMe webpage.
As of this publication, ISH has raised just over $6,600 of their $50,000 goal.
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