

Impact Report 2024
In 2024, WINS (Women in Need Society of Calgary) continued to foster a thriving community. WINS helps women and their families by connecting them with resources to build self-sufficient lives, with programs funded by our Thrift Stores and the generosity of Calgarians.
With your support, we empowered thousands of Calgarians to achieve greater resilience and stability. Now, we’re excited to share the highlights of our 2024 Impact Report – a story of lives touched and milestones reached.
Together, everyone WINS!

THRIVING TOGETHER IN
2024
BUT FIRST, LET US UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT
BARRIERS FACED BY WOMEN


WINS' Community Supports are structured in a circular framework because women's journeys towards stability and self-sufficiency are rarely linear. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, WINS recognizes that women may access programs and services depending on their unique situation—whether they need immediate crisis support, emotional healing, employment training, or long-term stability planning.


A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CHARITY IN
ACTION
WINS supports women and families in need by providing access to basic needs through House to Home, emotional support through personalized one-on-one guidance, and employment training in retail and warehouse. In 2024, these programs expanded and evolved to better meet the growing and changing needs of our Calgary community.
The spirit of thrifting champions sustainability and redefines what success means for women. By repurposing and recycling 7.1 million+ pounds of goods in 2024 alone, WINS helped protect the environment while funding community programs and services. Our thrift stores also provide accessible shopping for low-income individuals – making sustainability and affordability go hand in hand. In short, WINS has showcased in 2024 that doing good for the community and doing good for the planet can happen together.
Providing Basic Needs & Community Support
WINS is a lifeline for families facing social, economic, and emotional challenges. In 2024, we have given away over $1 million in essential goods through our House to Home program. We also ran special initiatives like the Holiday Gift Rooms, where parents selected free, brand-new gifts, and the Backpack Program, which equipped children with school supplies.
These programs, made possible by generous donors and volunteers, help meet basic needs with dignity and care. Every furnished home, wrapped gift, and supported student reflects WINS’ mission to create stability and hope—one family at a time.
Building Skills &
Economic Opportunity
WINS understands that building skills and confidence is key to long-term success. In 2024, dozens of women graduated from our Retail Ready and Warehouse Ready job training programs, joining over 500 participants placed in meaningful jobs since 2020.
These roles provide more than income to these women—they foster independence, confidence, and leadership. As we say at WINS, meaningful work empowers women to lead in every part of life. From retail to warehousing, our alumnae embraced their new careers with purpose, proving that when women thrive at work, their families and communities rise with them. Investing in women’s potential uplifts us all.
Social Enterprise & Sustainability
WINS thrift stores are more than just a shopping destination where you can find good stuff and good deals—they’re the engine behind our mission and a model for sustainability and circular economy.
In 2024, we opened two new locations, expanding access to affordable shopping and increasing impact in Calgary. Every donation and purchase helps fund programs for women and families while keeping 7.1 million+ pounds of goods out of landfills. Thrifting at WINS supports a circular, caring economy—offering value to shoppers, dignity to those in need, and a greener future for Calgary. Our stores show that doing good for the community and the planet can go hand in hand.
2024 UNFOLDED
Celebrating WINS' growth and impact in Calgary through volunteer-powered activities, stronger community partnerships, and employee-led events.
POWERED BY THE
CALGARY COMMUNITY
WINS’s impact in 2024 was powered by our incredible community of volunteers, donors, and partners. Over 29,000 volunteer hours supported everything from store operations to mentoring and events—proof that every moment truly mattered.
Thousands of Calgarians donated goods or gave financially, keeping our thrift stores stocked and programs strong. As Calgary’s homegrown charity social enterprise, WINS thrives because of you.
We also deepened partnerships, tackled increasing demand for basic needs, and welcomed more corporate volunteer groups.
This collective effort shows that “Together, everyone WINS” is more than a slogan—it’s how we build a stronger, more caring Calgary.
To everyone who donated, volunteered, shopped, or shared our story in 2024: thank you. Your time, empathy, and generosity helped women and families move from surviving to truly thriving in Calgary.


































WINS is proud to be recognized by Charity Intelligence Canada, an independent organization that evaluates Canadian charities for transparency, impact, and financial stewardship. Our profile highlights WINS as charity, with high marks in financial efficiency and demonstrated social impact. This recognition reflects our commitment to helping women and families thrive through responsible, community-driven programming.
Financial Stewardship & Accountability
In 2024, we carefully stewarded our funds to expand services and meet the growing needs in our city. Revenue from our thrift stores, grants, and donations was reinvested into program delivery. We are proud to say that the vast majority of our resources go directly to programs that benefit our community.

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