The proceeds from Blizzards sold at the Dairy Queen in Morinville on Feb. 28 will support the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation (JMMF).

Customers can help even further by “rounding-up” their bill to the nearest dollar.

“We thought it was a good fundraiser and we just wanted to support them and we like Blizzards,” said one customer, Sylvie Coxen.

The money is being used to help the foundation construct “Jessie’s House,” a first stage emergency shelter for residents in the area fleeing violence in their homes.

“It’s a 9,000 square foot home that will serve between 30 to 35 clients which includes children, “ said Janice Isberg, JMMF executive director.

The shelter, scheduled to open in 2020, will serve the Sturgeon Region, St. Albert, Edmonton Garrison and Alexander First Nations.

“It will serve men as well as seniors, LGBTQS2, so all of those individuals will have a spot at Jessie’s spot if they need it,” Isberg said.

The Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation was created in 2012 after 26-year-old Jessica Martel was murdered by her common-law husband in Morinville.

“We had tried multiple times to access resources for her in our community and there just wasn’t any,” said Lynne Rosychuk, Jessica’s mother and president of the JMMF.

“Just from our outreach services that we’re doing now and the amount of people that we’ve been helping, we certainly do need those services here,” she said.

“The only positive thing to have grown out of this tragedy is the community’s response to domestic violence,” added Isberg.

The foundation holds several fundraisers throughout the year. The cost to build Jessie’s House is $3 million and the group still needs to fundraise $1.6 million to cover that cost.

Rosychuk recently won $10,000 towards their goal when she was named a finalist for the 2019 Women of Worth award sponsored by L’Oréal Paris Canada.

“More importantly, Lynne is getting the recognition she so much deserves,” said Isberg.

“From now until the fourth of March there’s a public vote where we could potentially win an additional $10,000 for our cause,” said Rosychuk.

As the only Albertan in the finals, the foundation is hoping people will vote for Rosychuk online.

“You’ll find Lynne’s picture, it comes up the very first one of the ten women, just click on that link and vote. You can vote every day,” said Isberg.

The winner will be announced on March 8, International Women’s Day at a special gala.