Shannon Christensen鈥檚 passion for the non-profit world took hold early in life, thanks to her grandmother鈥檚 influence.

鈥淪he ran an orphanage in Nigeria for seven years while her husband was stationed overseas,鈥� Christensen recalled.

鈥淪he鈥檇 share stories and slides, and she kept all these really amazing mementos, and I kept thinking, 鈥業 want to do something like that.鈥欌��

Christensen鈥檚 interest in helping others first manifested in her career when she became a trauma therapist for the Elizabeth Frye Society, a position she still holds. But now, she鈥檚 driven to make a bigger difference鈥攁nd this drive has led her to create Mamas for Mamas, a community-driven platform where low-income mothers can request donated items, enroll in community support programs, and apply to receive refurbished computers free of charge.

Working at both organizations requires discipline and drive, which Christensen has in spades.

鈥淚 have two children under the age of five, so I鈥檓 up first thing in the morning. Around 6:30 a.m. I start answering emails and redirecting donation requests to our donations coordinator. After I get my kids up and ready for school and day care, that鈥檚 when I check in with the event planning committee.鈥�

The Mamas for Mamas鈥� event planning committee consists of 12 women from high-profile Okanagan organizations who plan events like the recent 1980s-themed 5K fun run and the upcoming 007 Casino Royale gaming and entertainment night.

The organization is also working on a fundraiser with the 琉璃神社 Closet Cleanout flea market and a spring pub night at Rose鈥檚 Pub, but the major headline event of the year will be the annual fundraising gala in November.

鈥淲e have a different theme every year鈥攍ast year it was Country Formal. It was a sold-out event at the Laurel Packinghouse. We raised about $10,000 for our programs, and part of that money also went toward children鈥檚 Christmas gifts for 10 families.鈥�

But that鈥檚 not all that Christensen has planned. The non-profit鈥檚 popular computer distribution program鈥攚hich provides individuals earning under $30,000 per year with refurbished computers for free鈥攚ill be up and running again as soon as Mamas for Mamas can find a computer technician to volunteer.

Universal childcare is also a major priority, as Christensen plans to open Canada鈥檚 first universal childcare centre to offer spaces at the federal New Democratic Party鈥檚 recommended rate of $15 per day.

Christensen鈥檚 drive to give back鈥攂oth in her day job as a trauma therapist and in her capacity as executive director of Mamas for Mamas 鈥攕tems from a simple but important lesson she learned from her father.

鈥淚t鈥檚 more important to be kind than it is to be right. My dad always used to say, 鈥楾he only thing I know for sure is that I don鈥檛 know anything for sure.鈥� He was a lawyer, and he鈥檇 often go to

Cottonwoods to prepare residents鈥� wills for free. He died in 2009, on the day after my wedding. After I lost him, I talked about change, wanting to see different things. And I thought, 鈥業 have to be the change I want to see in the world.鈥欌��

Christensen and her husband knew firsthand the stress and uncertainty of raising a family on a low income, and it鈥檚 that struggle and the fact that many women don鈥檛 have a partner to assist with bills is what inspired Christensen to start Mamas for Mamas.

鈥淲hen we were in our early 20s and on one income, we were broke, but we got by because we knew that we could borrow money from family if we had to. That鈥檚 why we have to build a community like (Mamas for Mamas). There shouldn鈥檛 be this much struggle in our own backyards when the resources to solve these problems are sitting right in front of us.鈥�

Since its inception in 2014, Mamas for Mamas has grown to 22 chapters nationwide, and counts 9,500 members across the Okanagan. It鈥檚 a phenomenon that Christensen attributes to the contagious nature of generosity. To learn more see mamasformamas.ca.

Crowe MacKay鈥檚 Women to Watch program is a weekly feature that profiles remarkable women in our community. This feature series is a joint initiative between Crowe MacKay, the 琉璃神社 Chamber of Commerce and the 琉璃神社. To nominate the exceptional woman in your life, email womentowatch@kelownachamber.org.