October 2022 Meeting: 100WWCG Begins Its Ninth Year With Another Opportunity to Give a Hand Up to A Local Charity!

Our October meeting marked the beginning of our ninth year of supporting charities within this community.

How incredible is that?

In 2014, when Sharon Lewis, Tannis Sprott and Diane Nelson came up with the idea of founding a chapter of 100 Women Who Care in Guelph, it seemed like a natural fit. Ours is a city which has its share of need and there is a huge constituency of generous women.

Charities bring together people who care about a cause and want to make a difference – by providing direct help, giving information, or raising awareness of an issue. 100 Women Who Care Guelph has been on a mission to give local charities a financial “hand up” as a way to help them succeed.

In spite of facing obstacles nobody could have ever anticipated, our group has managed to contribute a whopping $388,529 to the Guelph community over the past eight years. This has required the steadfast support of our membership and a willingness to connect in innovative ways.

Let’s be proud of all we have achieved…

Are you wondering what happened at the meeting?

Sharon opened the meeting with thanks to Sandra Lastovic (from SkiptheBank.ca) and the Delta Hotels Conference Centre. She acknowledged that their support is essential to 100WWCG’s efforts to meet in person again.

This is also our second of four hybrid meetings, held to accommodate the needs of members not yet ready to meet in person. We acknowledged the contribution of Audrey Lounder, whose assistance in organizing the hybrid component has helped us to move forward through a steep learning process.

Our October meeting begins our chapter’s 9th year!

Sharon noted that milestone and presented a list of our meeting dates for 2023:

Thursday, January 19th, 2023
Tuesday, April 4th, 2023
Monday, June 26th, 2023
Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 (tentative)

Following the opening comments, our chosen charities were announced and nominators had the opportunity to tell members why they were so passionate to support them.

After presentations had been made, members voted in person and remotely. As ballots were being counted, we listened to the Executive Director of Compass Community Services who thanked 100 Women Who Care Guelph for our June donation.

Our Chosen Charities

On October 2nd, Tannis selected the names of three charities which had been included in our nomination draw. This allowed our nominators an opportunity to prepare presentations in advance of our in person meeting.

Our three chosen charities were:

Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph
(Nominated by Barb McKay)

Barb McKay presented on behalf of the Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph. She emphasized the importance of music to emotional well-being and the need to mentor enthusiastic young talent and stressed that this organization provides thousands of young, aspiring musicians with annual performance opportunities second to none.

The Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph is one of the largest youth services programs in the arts in our community.

Funds from a 100WWCG donation would be directed to the scholarship and bursary program, augmentation of school programs and improvements to the festival’s website.

Guelph Youth Music Centre
(Nominated by Tannis Sprott)

Tannis Sprott presented on behalf of the Guelph Youth Music Centre (GYMC). The centre is a unique facility that educates, enriches and fosters the development of youth through music and the arts.

Until it was shuttered by Covid 2020, GYMC sponsored Do Re Mi, as part of their community outreach. This interactive program was designed to enrich the arts curriculum in elementary schools. Presented in a workshop setting, with a study guide provided to teachers and the guidance of professional musicians, students were given the opportunity to acquire fundamental music skills and explore their creativity.

Funds from a 100WWCG donation would be directed towards restarting the Do Re Mi program in the 2022/23 school year.

Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Inc.
(Nominated by Sharon and Cyndy McLean)

The Goderich to Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail is on a mission to develop and maintain a continuous, safe, accessible and fully inclusive rail trail experience that is 132 kilometres of linear, multi-use green space from the 401 corridors in Guelph to the shores of Lake Huron at Goderich. All efforts on the trail are funded by private donations and government grants.

The trail is a natural, historical, culturally significant conservation corridor, supporting community recreation and active transportation, promoting health and well-being, and bringing awareness to rural agriculture, heritage and the environment.

Funds from a 100WWCG donation would be directed towards improvements to trail detours in Guelph and surrounding area. These upgrades would include better signage, information kiosks, map boards, kilometre markers and location identifiers which would improve safety and accessibility for all trail users.

Important Announcement!

Goderich to Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail

(Nominated by Sharon and Cyndy McLean)

Is the Recipient of our October 2022 Donation!

For more information, follow this link to our most recent press release.

Funds from a 100WWCG donation will be directed towards improvements to trail detours in Guelph and surrounding area, including better signage, information kiosks, map boards, kilometre markers and location identifiers which will improve safety and accessibility for all trail users.

Our most recent group of 3 and 5 year pin recipients pose for a group picture!

We couldn’t do this without you.

100WWCG is so happy to acknowledge the members who qualified for their 3 and 5 year membership pins at our October 2022 meeting. Thank you so much for supporting the efforts of 100 Women Who Care Guelph!

We are REALLY making a difference within our community…

Tannis Sprott makes a 100WWCG cheque presentation to Compass Community Services

Compass Community Services Says “Thank You!” For Our June Donation

The Executive Director of Compass Community Services ,
Joanne Young Evans delivered a wholehearted “Thank You!” to our members for our June donation.

Follow this link to read what the team had to say.

Where do we go from here?

October 2022 marks the beginning of 100 Women Who Care Guelph’s ninth year of giving.

In spite of challenges we have experienced over the past 3 years, our membership should be incredibly proud of the fact that we have managed to donate $388,529 to local charities since October 2014.

We’ve learned to be nimble, using e-blasts and Zoom to replace or augment in person meetings, as we work hard to stay connected with our membership.

It has been wonderful to see our friends again – in person or by Zoom, and to share our commitment to staying engaged with our community and local charities.

Most important, we have learned that no matter how we stay connected, members continue moving forward with their commitment to giving. We really are making a difference and you are the reason for our success…

We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting, on Thursday, January 19th, 2022, at 7:00 pm, at the Delta Hotels Conference Centre.

Sharon, Tannis, Miriam, Lisa, Peggy and Dianne

The 100 Women Team

Press Release October 2022 (G2G Rail Trail)

100 WWCG Supports Signage on the Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail

The Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail, a 132-kilometre abandoned railbed, has been refurbished to become a year-round, easily accessible recreation trail.

Exercise is well known to contribute to our physical health, and there are proven benefits from getting out and enjoying nature to mental health as well. The G2G trail has seen a marked increase in use since the beginning of of the pandemic.

This well graded and volunteer-maintained trail, with 25 access points along its route, is fully inclusive. Cyclists, hikers, and families with strollers can be seen sharing the trail through all seasons.

The trail ends at the north end of the city, where it detours around the active portion of the railway to connect to city trails and downtown Guelph.

The generous donation of $10,000+ from 100 Women Who Care Guelph will be used to improve safety and accessibility along this detour route. Providing a detailed route map, QR codes to locate positioning on Google Maps, and regular “You are Here” markers, the safety of the trail will be increased for all users and will be critical in the case of an emergency.

100WWCG is delighted to find ways to encourage all citizens of Guelph to connect with nature, while bringing awareness to rural agriculture, heritage, and the environment.

To find more information on the fundraising efforts of 100 WWCG, or to become a member and join in contributing to local charities, visit their website at www.100womenwhocareguelph.com.

Compass Community Services Says “Thank You!” For Our June Donation

Compass Community Services has grown in size and complexity since its inception in 1964 as a prevention-oriented program of the Children’s Aid Society. As the needs of the community grew and changed, the program incorporated as an independent non-profit agency. Formerly Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington, the agency rebranded to Compass Community Services in 2021. The change reflects the evolution of the organization, its current vision, and range of services.

The name Compass Community Services was chosen to capture the reliable, trusted direction, and support the agency brings to community members. Compass is an integral part of the community and provides mental health and social services to individuals, families, and children. These services guide people through life’s challenges, whether they are emotional, developmental, or professional. The programs deeply impact people’s lives.

Compass provides a full range of services to help people deal with relationships, emotional wellbeing, and physical and/or emotional trauma as well as service coordination and intensive behavioural consultation for adults and children with developmental disabilities. Agency services also include weekly no appointment Walk-in Counselling and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

Your donation for our Telephone Support program currently has four service areas: Distress Line (a call in service), TeleConnect (a call out service), LGBTQ+ (a call and text service); and, Seniors Offering Support (a call out service recently acquired in April ‘22). These services operate 14 hours/day/365 days a year. None of these services currently have permanent annualized funding. We are grateful for support from the United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin and private donations, such as yours, to be able to offer the service. Weekly calls of individuals in distress, suicidal situations, alleged abuse, depression, anxiety, trauma and more are increasing every month (see image below) saving $1M+ in emergency services.

Thank you on behalf of our entire community and for saving lives. We will continue to be there for anyone who needs us with your help.

Compass Community Services

Telephone Support

Our June 2022 Meeting

At 100WWCG’s First In Person/Virtual Hybrid Meeting, We Reconnected and Reaffirmed Our Commitment to Local Charities!

We’ve worn masks, been vaccinated, worked from home and attended virtual 100WWCG meetings for more than 2 years, but now we’re back!

June has marked the first in person/virtual hybrid meeting that our chapter has ever held and we’ve experienced an excellent outcome.

Members who wanted to connect face-to-face had the opportunity to attend our in person meeting at the Delta Hotels Conference Centre, and those who were more comfortable attending virtually used our Zoom meeting option.

Most important, our new format has made it possible for members to stay energized and connected to our mission to give generously to local charities!

So what happened at the meeting?

Sharon opened the meeting with thanks to our incredibly generous corporate sponsors, Sandra Lastovic and the Delta Hotels Conference Centre. Their support made it possible for our group to meet in person again.

She followed up with an expression of profound gratitude to Audrey Lounder, our “Zoom Angel.” Audrey is a good friend to founding member Tannis Sprott, who recognized that we have needed help in our quest to hold a hybrid meeting. Her patience and good humour have helped us to move forward through a steep learning process.

There was also a shout out to our special guest, Suzanne Denomme and her colleagues who are starting a chapter of 100 Realtors Who Care in Waterloo Region.

Sharon reviewed changes which have been made to our charity selection and presentation process and stressed that these changes have been adopted to encourage members to present their heartfelt stories to support the charities they nominate.

That said, any charity nominator who attends on Zoom, is really anxious about public presentations, or who comes down ill at the last minute, can specify another member as a second or (as an absolute last resort) a committee member to present on their behalf. In the event that a nominating member will not be present, that member can invite a charity representative to attend the meeting IN PERSON, to answer questions. (This representative will not be able to make the entire presentation.) This is an effort to level the playing field for small vs. large charities.

It was noted that there are 66 members who currently qualify for, but have not been able to receive, 3 year and 5 year membership pins. Those members were asked to rise and be acknowledged for their service. A group photo was taken after the meeting.

Sharon wrapped up her comments by announcing that our next meeting, which will also be in hybrid format, will take place on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022, at the Delta Hotels Conference Centre. She was proud to note that this October will begin our chapter’s 9th year and that we have raised $374,879.00 since October 2014!

Following the opening comments, our chosen charities were announced and nominators had the opportunity to tell members why they were so passionate to support them.

Our Chosen Charities Are…

On June 13th, Tannis and Sharon selected the names of three charities which had been included in our nomination draw. This allowed our nominators an opportunity to prepare presentations in advance of our in person meeting.
Our three chosen charities were:

Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph
(Nominated by Barb McKay)

Barb McKay presented on behalf of the Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph. She emphasized the importance of music to emotional well-being and the need to mentor enthusiastic young talent and stressed that this organization provides thousands of young, aspiring musicians with annual performance opportunities second to none.

The Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph is one of the largest youth services programs in the arts in our community.

Funds from a 100WWCG donation would be directed to the scholarship and bursary program, augmentation of school programs and improvements to the festival’s website.

Compass Community Services
(Nominated by Karyn Kirkwood)

Karyn Kirkwood made a presentation with support from Colten Ura, Manager of Telephone Support, Compass Community Services.

Compass Community Services (formerly known as Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington), is an integral part of the community, providing mental health and social services to individuals, families, and children. These services guide people through life’s challenges, whether they are emotional, developmental, or professional. Included in these programs are counselling and therapy services, developmental services, workplace wellness and telephone support services.

Funds from a 100WWCG donation would be directed to their telephone support lines which provide four dedicated services – providing emotional support, a dedicated LGBTQ+ support line, their community check-in service and their telephone visiting service for isolated seniors.

Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington
(Nominated by Robin Smart)

Tannis Sprott presented on behalf of Robin Smart, with assistance from Lorri Watamaniuk, Director of Fund Development, Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington.The Alzheimer Society is here so that no one has to face Alzheimer’s disease or any other type of dementia alone. It provides support for ANY type of dementia and is the only organization in the community dedicated to helping people and their families live well with a dementia diagnosis. The society offers dementia-friendly social, recreation, education, counseling, and care partner support groups, all free of charge.

Funds from a 100WWCG donation would be dedicated toward much-needed therapeutic recreation programs which provide both stimulation to the person living with dementia and respite to the care partner.

Great News!

Compass Community Services
(Nominated by Karyn Kirkwood)
Is the Recipient of our June 2022 Donation!

For more information, follow this link to our most recent press release.
Funds from a 100WWCG donation will be directed towards sustaining their telephone support lines which comprise four dedicated services – providing emotional support, a dedicated LGBTQ+ support line, their community check-in service and their telephone visiting service for isolated seniors!

Let’s celebrate our latest 5 year and 3 year pin recipients!

Thank you so much for supporting the efforts of 100 Women Who Care Guelph
We are REALLY making a difference within our community…
We are proud to announce that as of our June 2022 meeting, we have 23 members who qualify to receive their 3 year membership pins and 43 members who qualify to receive their 5 year pins.

The Nightingale Centre Poses with a “Big Cheque”. From 100WWCG

Tannis Sprott presents a 100WWCG big cheque to Dr. Laura Brown, Executive Director of the Nightingale Centre

If you want to read the Nightingale Centre’s “Thank you!” to 100WWCG, follow this link!

Where do we go from here?

We are so excited to complete this quarter’s meeting and voting process! We have proven that through hard work, generosity and innovation, we can achieve incredible success.

It was wonderful to see our friends again – in person or by Zoom, and to share our commitment to staying engaged with our community and local charities. We would like to thank our members for their persistence and loyalty through the challenges of the past couple of years. Thanks so much for your support!

Press Release June 2022 (Compass Community Services)

100 WWCG Supports Compass Community Services

Compass Community Services (formerly known as Family Counselling and Support Services) was chosen to receive the latest $10,000+ donation from 100 Women Who Care Guelph.

Working toward a vision of a resilient and supported community, Compass Community Services offers support to people in our community through four main pillars. Through their Therapy Services, Developmental Services, Workplace Wellness, and Telephone Support Services programs, they assist those dealing with physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; trauma; financial problems; and developmental challenges.

This generous donation from 100WWCG will go towards their four Telephone Support Lines, which are anonymous, confidential and free to all residents.

In January of 2020, support was offered to 200 individuals per month, utilizing 4 volunteers with limited hours. The program has expanded in 2 ½ years to supporting 3,000 individuals per month, 14 hours a day, seven days a week including holidays, utilizing over 125 trained volunteers.

Their Distress Line provides emotional support through active listening and empathy at times when people may feel stressed, overwhelmed, hopeless, or suicidal.

Their LGTBQ+ Support Line provides an inclusive space to LGTBQ+ youth or those who may be questioning their identity or sexuality.

Their TeleConnect Line sees community members receiving calls offering emotional support, casual conversation, or establishing medical reminders and prompts to support the needs of the individual.

Their Seniors Offering Support line is a telephone visiting services for isolated seniors, helping them combat their loneliness and isolation by sharing stories or reminiscences with other seniors.

Not only do these telephone services help people feel more connected and give them access to the mental health resources they need, but it can literally save lives.

100WWCG is proud to support this critical service for our community members.

To find more information on the fundraising efforts of 100 WWCG, or to become a member and join in contributing to local charities, visit their website at www.100womenwhocareguelph.com.

Nightingale Centre Says “Thank You!” for Our April 2022 Donation

You’ve helped us provide some light in the darkness for grieving families….

Dr. Laura Brown from the Nightingale Centre, accepts 100WWCG’s “Big Cheque” for our April Donation.

The Nightingale Centre for Grieving Children, Youth, and Families is so grateful for the donation from 100 Women Who Care. The Nightingale Centre is a young organization; we only came into existence in 2019, one year before the pandemic. It was founded because a few individuals who work in mental health services with grieving families, and a few individuals who had experienced significant deaths in their family, recognized the need for a dedicated centre to support the unique needs of grieving children and families. Research has shown us that children grieve differently from adults and these differences are crucial in understanding how to support children through the anticipation, immediate aftermath, and long-term management of a significant death in their lives. Parents and caregivers, who are typically grieving themselves, need guidance in how to support their children through these periods while also supporting themselves through their own grief.

This is where the Nightingale Centre comes in for families of Guelph and Wellington County, and where your donation dollars have made a significant impact for these families.

To begin, your dollars helped fund the spring 2022 programs for the Family Bereavement Program and the Youth Bereavement Program. These programs bring grieving children and adolescents together with trained facilitators and volunteers, over several weeks, to help them identify their feelings related to their grief, give words to their feelings and experiences, and coping methods to manage them, and help them feel less alone and like they are part of a community of others sharing this significant experience. In addition, the parents receive support and guidance in what to expect from their grieving children and youth and how to support them during their own grief journey. Your dollars helped us pay for our facilitators for these groups, amazing women who are incredibly dedicated to the work that Nightingale does and its mission to help these vulnerable families.

Secondly, your donation dollars helped fund the purchase of the therapeutic materials we used with the different groups in the Family Bereavement and Youth Bereavement Programs. While the groups have been online, packages of materials have been put together by the facilitators and distributed to the families prior to the sessions so that they are accessible to the children and adolescents during each session. These materials include art supplies, related readings, and building materials – all with the mind to facilitate activities to help them through their grief journey. In addition, the parents receive information packages about how to continue to support their grieving children. We know that this is a long journey and it’s important that these parents have material to which to refer in the coming months and years following the end of the programs.

We have also used your donation dollars to expand our library of children’s books and other resources that are helpful in opening the discussion of dying, death, and grief with children, and providing parents, caregivers, community support people, and educators, with the words and tools necessary to support these children outside of Nightingale. This furthers our goal of helping our community become more grief literate for our children, so they are supported well beyond specific mental health services, and no longer left out of conversations and experiences that have such a huge impact on their lives.

Our families tell us constantly how grateful they are that we are in place for them. They feel supported with their unique needs and that the programs are a safe place for them to express themselves to compassionate, like-minded individuals. The children find words to explain how they’re feeling to parents, caregivers, friends, and teachers so that they can get their needs met more readily.

The pandemic has been devastating for organizations, especially young charitable ones like the Nightingale Centre. But your donation dollars are helping us to continue our support of these families during dark times in their lives and helps us to help them find some light.

Thank you so much.

The Nightingale Centre for Grieving Children, Youth, and Families

Our April 2022 Virtual Meeting

At 100 Women Who Care Guelph’s Eighth Virtual Meeting, Local Charities Take Centre Stage

So its been a crazy couple of years…

We’ve worn masks, been vaccinated, worked from home, had Zoom meetings (and funerals, and weddings). We keep trying to find balance and a “new normal” but we aren’t quite there yet.

There may still be some challenges in the future, but 100 Women Who Care Guelph has proven it can rise to any challenge.

Great news! In spite of Covid-19, we have continued to make a huge financial contribution to local charities. We’re proud to report that over the past (almost) eight years, we have raised close to $362,000.

And here we are, delivering the results of our eighth virtual meeting. That says something about our members’ level of commitment to giving back to our community. It also says a great deal about what we can achieve, moving forward.

Your kindness is making a difference.

Last week, members representing three charities selected in our nomination draw, provided written presentations which were reviewed and voted on by our group.
Our three chosen charities were:

The Nightingale Centre
(Nominated by Donna Core)
*

Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington
(Nominated by Robin Smart)
*

Art Not Shame
(Nominated by Rachel Collins )
*

Important Announcement!

The Nightingale Centre
(Nominated by Donna Core)

Is the Recipient of our April 2022 Donation!
The donation from 100 Women Who Care will be used to:
– fund and train facilitators
– purchase therapeutic supplies for memory-making activities
– purchase books that can be read to children to encourage conversation
– provide information packages for parents
– offer educational workshops for the community

For more information, follow this link to our most recent press release.

Tannis Sprott presents a cheque to members of the Guelph Community Health Van Team

Guelph/Wellington Community Health Van Team Says “Thank You!” For Our January Donation

The Guelph/Wellington Community Health Van Team recently expressed its thanks for our January donation!
Follow this link to read what the team had to say.

What’s Next?

As we wrap up this nomination and voting cycle, 100 Women Who Care Guelph is looking towards the future.

We have had some questions from members regarding how and when 100WWCG can return to ‘in person’ meetings. That said, we’d like to transition from virtual to in person meetings in a way that honours all our member’s needs. We recently conducted a brief survey of the membership to try to gauge everyone’s comfort level.

The past two years have taught us that our group is strong, innovative and flexible and will rise to the challenge of finding the best and safest way for our members to “connect” as we move forward. By the end of April, you will be receiving an email which details exciting changes to our meeting format. Stay tuned for more information…

Sharon, Tannis, Miriam, Lisa, Peggy and Dianne. The 100 Women Team

Press Release April 2022 (The Nightingale Centre)

100 WWCG Supports The Nightingale Centre

The Nightingale Centre for Grieving Children, Youth and Families is the most recent recipient of the $10,000+ donation from 100 Women Who Care Guelph.

The Nightingale Centre provides grief and bereavement support through programs tailored to the differing needs of children, youth, and families who are experiencing the death of a parent or sibling through illness or suicide.

Death, especially when it comes unexpectedly, is one of the most psychologically devastating events a child will experience, leaving them in a vulnerable state. The Nightingale Centre was created to help prevent traumatic consequences for the bereaved by providing well-informed support on their grief journey.

Counsellors trained in grief and bereavement work with parents to support them in their own grief, but also to guide them in how to help their children grieve.

The counsellors work with the children, taking them through activities designed to help them identify their feelings of grief, learn coping strategies, and build resilience.

The Nightingale Centre was created to ensure that no child will have to make that grief journey alone. Unfortunately, demand for their services has increased due to heightened social isolation experienced during COVID-19.

The nightingale, one of the few birds known to sing at night, is symbolic of the work The Nightingale Centre does. In their own words, “If darkness is symbolic of grief, and singing is symbolic of hope – it is our goal to support our grieving children and young people as they learn to sing in the dark.”

100 WWCG offers their latest donation in support of grieving hearts.

To find more information on the fundraising efforts of 100 WWCG, or to become a member and join in contributing to local charities, visit their website at www.100womenwhocareguelph.com.

Guelph Community Health Van Team Says “Thank You” For Our January 2022 Donation

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_06811-1024x768.jpg — Tannis Sprott presents a cheque to members of the Guelph Community Health Van Team

April 8, 2022

Thank you to ‘100 Women Who Care Guelph’!

The Guelph/Wellington Van Team would like to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to 100 Women Who Care Guelph for their generous donation to our Mobile Community Health Van Program. The Van program provides accessible harm reduction support and supplies, social support, and nursing care to individuals in Guelph and Wellington County. Our outreach team includes a registered nurse, peer support worker, and social support worker all of whom work to build relationships with those who visit the van, as well as build connections to other community and health services. We also collaborate with other local services and agencies such as Legal Aid to bring information and referrals to folks who can’t easily access mainstream support.

Sanguen believes in providing barrier-free health care and support using an interdisciplinary approach. We provide Hepatitis C testing, information and treatment, wound care for abscesses and blisters, vein care, rapid testing for HIV and Hep C, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and counselling on safer sex and birth control. We also provide COVID-19 testing and vaccination, overdose prevention support and naloxone, and collection of used injection equipment. The Community Health Van also distributes food, hygiene items and clothing on our regular stops across Guelph and Wellington County. With generous support from organizations such as 100 Women Who Care Guelph we are able to purchase essential items for the van such as socks, hats, mitts, snacks, hygiene products (sunscreen, soap, shampoo, and sanitizer), blankets, clothing, and phones.

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the way individuals who face barriers to care have been able to access support in the community. Over the past two years the Community Health Van has been heavily focused on providing as many items as possible to help alleviate the lack of access to resources, service, and basic necessities due to the pandemic. Some of these items include diapers, footwear, meal replacements, pet food, and camping supplies. With new stops added to Wellington County (Harriston, Palmerston, Arthur, Rockwood, Mount Forest, Erin, Fergus), we are working to better support harm reduction, overdose prevention and social support for those facing barriers in rural areas.

Thank you to 100 Women Who Care Guelph for choosing us as the recipients! With your support we can continue our work to bring health care and support directly to those who need it in Guelph and Wellington County!

With many thanks,

The Guelph/Wellington Van Outreach Team

100WWCG’s Seventh Virtual Meeting Reinforces our Dedication to the Guelph Charity Community…

Photo courtesy Unsplash

Wow! Over the past year, what we definitely have learned is the power of our members’ determination and commitment. In response to punishing Covid-19 challenges, we have used virtual meetings to continue our important work for Guelph charities – and we have succeeded!
100WWCG has been determined to prevail, against all odds. We have worked hard, been innovative, and stayed connected to our membership. Our over-riding desire has been to give back to the Guelph community.

We are proud to say that we haven’t given up on local charitable organizations. They are not alone in their struggle to survive and their continued success matters to our membership.

Our commitment to Guelph charities is firm. We want to support them, no matter how challenging the current situation may be. 100 Women Who Care Guelph is proud to move forward, and wholeheartedly dedicate its efforts to our community.

Members, representing three charities selected in our nomination draw, provided written presentations which were reviewed and voted upon by members.

Our three chosen charities were:

1. The Nightingale Centre
(Nominated by Donna Core)

2. The Guelph Community Health Van
(Nominated by Ruth McMath )

3. Waterloo Wellington Down Syndrome Society
(Nominated by Mary Casagrande)

Photo courtesy Unsplash

Important Announcement!

The Guelph Community Health Van
(Nominated by Ruth McMath )

Is the Recipient of our January 2022 Donation!

Over the past two years, there has been a huge increase in demand for services and supplies offered by the Van, especially as the pandemic has reduced access to health facilities and resources.

Our 100 Women Who Care Guelph donation will be used to fund the purchase of the most urgently needed winter items including sleeping bags, warm clothing, tarps, blankets and hygiene supplies.

Where do we go from here?

The past two years have felt like a gut punch.

Nobody believed that in 2022, we would find ourselves here, but this is our reality and we persist. There have been positive outcomes.

We have learned that we are strong and innovative.
100WWCG continues to make a huge contribution to the Guelph community, in spite of Covid-19.

Connection used to be easier. That said, we know that we need to stay engaged, now more than ever. Whatever the challenge we may have faced, the 100WWCG membership has always been up to the task!

100WWCG has committed to giving back to the Guelph community over the past 7 years. This commitment has made it possible for 100WWCG to donate more than $10,000 per quarter to eligible local charities. Congratulations to our membership for achieving this incredible success.

Most of us recognize that our path forward isn’t clear yet, but the steering committee is constantly working towards the day when we can have real handshakes and hugs in large venues, without hand sanitizer and masks, and make our decisions without relying on network technology. We will notify everyone by email and post information on the Upcoming Meetings page on our website, as soon as this is possible.

Meanwhile, we are confident that you will continue to be the engaged membership that we celebrate, as we move forward to achieve incredible successes within the Guelph charity community.

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

Mohammed Ali

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

President Barack Obama

Thanks for your huge contribution to our success! Together, we really domake a difference.

Sharon, Tannis, Miriam, Lisa, Carol, Peggy and Dianne

The 100 Women Team