BY LISSA ALEXANDER
When Susanna Newton recounts her 30 years at Society of Organized Services (SOS), she can’t remember a single dull day.
“As a program coordinator I learned firsthand what SOS supports can mean to an individual or a family who is struggling,” she said. “As the executive director, I now see firsthand the impact SOS has on the community, and I feel privileged to receive the positive feedback from our supporters and partners; it is very motivating.”
Newton started as a program coordinator with SOS in 1993, moved on to a secretary position, and then became more involved in program management and human resources. She worked as assistant executive director for 11 years before taking over as executive director in 2018.
Some of the big projects that have stood out to Newton include building the new Thrift Shop (celebrating 20 years at its current location this September). She said it was an exciting time as the new, larger space would help provide a solid funding base for the society’s burgeoning programs and services.
In 2004, SOS established the Child, Youth & Family Centre in the old Thrift Shop location. Those free programs have grown significantly over the years, providing a safe space for families and young people to play and create while developing friendships and confidence.
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Newton also remembers 2005 as a significant year, when SOS created targeted programming for seniors, including Seniors Connecting and Seniors’ Advocacy Services. “Those programs have proven to be critical for our older population,” she said. “Many seniors rely on SOS, whether it’s getting them out of the house for social interaction or helping meet their basic needs.”
Expanding programming to Qualicum Commons in 2015 was also a memorable time, making SOS programs more accessible to residents.
SOS’s 50th anniversary in 2018 was a wonderful year of celebrations, she said, reminiscing how SOS had grown from an idea by three women around a kitchen table, to the heart of our community.
After two years as executive director however, things took a turn for the worse.
“Like many other organizations, the pandemic hit us hard,” Newton said. “Personally, the hardest thing I have ever had to do was to lay off over 50 staff, not knowing when they would return, or when we would be able to reopen the Thrift Shop and resume programs.”
Thanks to community support, SOS was able to keep essential services running throughout the pandemic. Although it was a very scary time, the support was heartening. “We had to move straight into crisis fundraising,” she explained. “On the positive side, the community rose to the challenge and supported us then, and continues to do so now.”
SOS is celebrating its 55 anniversary this year, and Newton says the organization owes its success to the thousands of volunteers who have made SOS what it is today, dedicated staff and unwavering community support. She’s confident there will be no slow, easy days in her future at SOS, and she’s okay with that.
“The work we do is hard; however, the reward is knowing that we make a difference.”