August 6, 2026

Every grant has the potential to make a meaningful difference. The following impact story, shared by The Mustard Seed Foundation, highlights how their Health and Wellness Program is helping individuals overcome barriers and create a lasting change in their lives, with support from The Monica Bruchall Foundation.

When Lilian* first arrived at The Mustard Seed’s Health and Wellness Centre, she was in crisis. After enduring nearly 30 years of abuse, she had escaped with nothing but her cellphone and the clothes she was wearing.
Years of coercive control had left her isolated and dependent on her former spouse, who managed every aspect of her life. She arrived without identification, financial resources, or a support network of her own, and with significant unmet health needs after years without access to medical or dental care.

Through consistent advocacy, our team helped Lilian begin rebuilding her independence. Advocates assisted her in obtaining government identification and an Alberta Health Care card, connecting to income support, restoring her financial independence, and learning to manage tasks such as online banking and filing her taxes.

As her immediate needs stabilized, advocates helped Lilian focus on her health and healing by connecting her with healthcare services. She received medical care, eyeglasses, dental treatment and dentures, and began counselling to process her trauma. Finding safe, stable housing was one of Lilian’s greatest challenges. Through ongoing advocacy, our team helped her navigate the housing system, access Gender-based Violence funding, secure assistance with her security deposit, and obtain referrals for essential furniture and household items. These supports helped her move into safe, independent housing and transform an empty apartment into a welcoming home.

Today, Lilian is living independently, managing her finances, attending medical appointments, participating in The Mustard Seed’s counselling program, and building meaningful connections through activities at one of our Community Impact Centres. She has gained the confidence to navigate systems on her own and continues to build a future of safety, stability, and hope.

Thank you for helping make stories like Lilian’s possible. The support of The Monica Bruchall Fund helps ensure people in our community have access to compassionate health and wellness services that strengthen their well-being, support recovery, and empower them to build healthier, more independent futures.

_{*Name has been changed to protect client confidentiality.}