By Leah Murray

Business owner finds new way to give back

Dec 14, 2016 | 9:08 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The holidays are a time when many people want to give back to their communities. A majority of the time its through a cash donation to a charity.
But, as you mull over the best ways to give back, you may want to keep in mind cash isn’t the only currency you have at your disposal. Your time and expertise are also welcome donations to many organizations.
Normally the women staying at the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter have daily group sessions that focus on topics like overcoming abuse and how to get back on their feet.
But on Tuesday, they got to leave that all behind for a little while and learn some new skills thanks to a local home based business owner.

“I chose to bring supplies, some decadent organic soap, and some other things to the Women’s Shelter, and empower the women to create their own soap and cosmetics and give them a skill that they can take and use.” said Stella Sehn, owner of Sweet Pure Honey.
Sehn admits 2016 has been a hard year for many people and businesses, including her own, reporting a 60 per cent decrease in sales at local markets for her business.
“We started Sweet Pure Honey in the middle of a recession, but I personally have never seen the decrease in sales that I’ve experienced in this past year.” said Sehn.
 The downturn in the economy has forced her to find a new way to give back to the charities she normally donates money to.
The donation of her time, supplies, and skills comes as a welcome gift to the women at the shelter.
“They’ve come from a situation where they’ve been told they can’t do things, or they’ve been very controlled, or it’s just been terrible in crisis. And then you walk into that room and they’re having fun and it’s such a great experience, it’s wonderful,” said Natasha Carvalho, the executive director of the Women’s Shelter.
Carvalho said occasionally having people come in to spend time with the women and teach them new skills is invaluable.
“We can always use volunteers to come help us do things,” she said. “If they have a special skill and they’d like to come and work with the women and even with the kids, that would be wonderful.”
Sehn said she started her business with nothing more than the hope of providing a better life for her family. Through her new kind of donations, she hopes the women see they have the power to do the same.
“When you know somebody who changed their life, that is an inspiration,” she said. “Now these women are going to go home with this and say ‘She did it. This is proof. I have it in my hands. And if she can do it, I can do it too.’”