The Prince Albert YWCA has been given an award of merit for its outstanding work in the community.

The award was given to the shelter on Monday night by the City of Prince Albert.

Shelter manager Edna Bruce says the organization is pleased to be appreciated for all its hard work.

“I mean it’s not just this building,” says Bruce. “In the last 7 years, the YWCA has tripled in size in all the works they are doing.”

Bruce says a vital part of the YWCA’s programming is the cot program which provides a warm place to sleep for those who have nowhere to go in the winter.

“Being one of the coldest winters on record, nobody froze to death last year and (the city) really felt it had a lot to do with the harm reduction that the cot program provided.”

She adds they are currently accepting donations of warm clothing for the upcoming cold weather.