A fundraiser to benefit women in Surrey's Somali community is being hailed an entrepreneurial success.
Held Dec. 10 at the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent branch, the event raised about $1,800 through the sale of homemade 'sambuus' – Somali samosas.
"It was a sell-out. Orders and inquiries are still coming in," Tara Holt, a member of a newly formed not-for-profit, Women 4 Women, said by email.
Holt said W4W – consisting of seven women from diverse backgrounds including business, education and self-employment – chose working with the Somali women as their first initiative.
The women are from refugee backgrounds and "have had many challenges in their lives and during their settlement into Canadian society," Holt said of the nine.
Last month, W4W hosted a fundraiser to highlight the women's culinary skills, and the food was so well-received by the 200 guests that the idea for the sambuus sale was born.
"Our aim is to assist them to make their name and 'brand' known in Surrey for future sales and/or business connections," Holt said.
The women – who have all obtained FoodSafe certification – prepared 1,200 of the savory snacks in the legion's industrial kitchen. They sold more than 120 bags for $15 per bag.
Holt said the Somali women are looking forward to more sales, and plan to add an "amazing sauce" to their list of offerings.
W4W is looking for ways to connect them with local business owners, she added.
Holt described the Branch 240 legion's "tremendous support" as "integral" to the program's success so far.
She encouraged anyone interested in more information or in getting involved with W4W to email women_4_women@outlook.com