Sweet Emily J   172062 Report post Posted July 4, 2021 Posting on behalf of Ottawa Independent Companions: We have now missed three of our usual fundraising socials for The OIC Emergency Fund because of the pandemic. We hope we can count on your support. 💜 The OIC-EF is a fund within OIC that gives small grants to sex workers for basic necessities like food, shelter, medication, or essential bills. It is intended to be a last resort. It also funds our psychotherapy program, which grants members who have experienced trauma or are struggling with mental illness access to professional sessions with licensed therapists. All costs associated with running our collective are fully funded through regular member contributions. This is why 100% of donations collected through our regular fundraising efforts go directly to the OIC-EF and where it’s needed most. Over the years, your support has helped us give out over $35,000 in non-repayable grants to local sex workers facing financial hardship. This has been a vital lifeline for those who find themselves with no where else to turn. We are seeking that support again. OIC is a unique organization in the sex work landscape. It’s not always been easy; we’ve made mistakes, and we’ve struggled, but we’ve also persevered. Through the teamwork of our members & the generosity of our donors, we've done great things. But we have a lot more work to do. A sex work industry without sex worker-led organizations like OIC is one rife with exploitation, injustice, and abuse. It would mean even more uncertainty, and even more precarious circumstances, for both workers and for clients. Our mission is simple: to improve the working conditions and the general well-being of local sex workers. The OIC-EF is an essential part of that. Please help us continue that mission. 💜  2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
