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

Guelph Y Camp says “Thank You!” For Our October 2021 Donation

Tannis Sprott delivers our October donation to YMCA of Three Rivers.

Here for Good, Because of You…

Thank you for your generous donation to our March Break Camps. The YMCA is Canada’s largest camp provider, and locally, the YMCA of Three Rivers is well-known for providing safe and inclusive camp experiences for all children ages 4 -12 years. Through camp, children are provided a chance to learn, grow, and explore in a place where they feel they truly belong. Together, children from across our community come together to try new activities and build lasting friendships.

While COVID-19 disrupted what camp has looked like for us, we’re looking forward to welcoming more children back to our Guelph Y Day Camps in 2022. And, your support of nearly $12,000 couldn’t have come at a better time.

For many families, March Break Camp is necessary child care to allow them to continue work. At the Y, we’re committed to providing equitable access to all. In 2019, of our 118 Guelph March Break Campers, 47% were subsidized. That’s 56 individual children who might not otherwise have had the chance to experience Y camps.

Families in our community continue to struggle with the realities of the pandemic. From school shutdowns to remote learning, balancing working from home and caring for your family to layoffs and job uncertainty, our families need access to subsidized March Break programming now more than ever. And, thanks to your generous gift, we can meet this need.

Through your support, you’re providing children the opportunity to get outside, have new experiences, and connect with friends – all of which contribute to their improved health and well-being. On behalf of all our campers – thank you.

Sincerely,

The YMCA of Three Rivers Philanthropy Team: Chantelle, Patricia and Victoria

Press Release January 2022 (Guelph Community Health Van)

100 WWCG Supports the Marginalized Through the Guelph Community Health Van

The marginalized in our society are among the most at risk of contracting and experiencing serious effects from COVID-19. Whether the marginalization stems from homelessness, mental health, substance use or chronic poverty, access to critical services for this group has been severely impacted by the pandemic.

Sanguen Community Health, based in Waterloo, has provided support to those in need in Guelph through the Guelph Community Health Van since October 2016.

The marginalized often feel invisible or unwanted. When so many doors have been closed throughout the pandemic, the Van staff have been there to serve the most vulnerable and isolated members of our community by meeting them where they are.

The Van is staffed by an interdisciplinary and multi-agency team made up of a Harm Reduction Coordinator, Peer Support Worker, Public Health Nurse, and a Social Support Coordinator.

On top of offering harm reduction supplies, food and basic hygiene items, the Van provides nursing supports such as wound care, vaccines, STI testing, and peer and social supports to this vulnerable group.

As the pandemic stretches on through another cold winter, no one should be left behind. 100 Women Who Care Guelph, dedicated to supporting local charities, has chosen the Guelph Community Health Van to be the recipient of their $10,000+ donation this quarter in support of our community’s most at risk members.

The 100 WWCG donation will go towards purchasing some of the most urgently needed winter items, including sleeping bags, warm clothing, tarps, blankets, and hygiene supplies.

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.

Virtual Meeting Number Six Reinforces Our Commitment to Serving the Guelph Community…

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

We’ve discovered a great deal over the past year, but the one thing we have definitely learned is the power of determination and commitment. 100 Women Who Care Guelph has used virtual meetings to continue our important work for Guelph charities in response to ongoing Covid-19 concerns.
For those in need of support, the sentiment above says it all. Our determination to prevail during this challenging time has required 100WWCG to be innovative in our efforts to give back to our Guelph community.
We are proud to say that we haven’t given up on local charities. They are not alone in their struggle to survive and their continued success matters to our membership. The power of generosity is a mighty one.

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. YMCA of Three Rivers
(Nominated by Rosemary Fernandes-Walker)

2. Guelph Wish Fund for Children
(Nominated by Karyn Kirkwood)

3. Foundation of Guelph General Hospital
(Nominated by Lisa Hood)

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Important Announcement!

YMCA of Three Rivers
(Nominated by Rosemary Fernandes- Walker)

Is the Recipient of our October 2021 Donation!

YMCA of Three Rivers will use our donation to support its Day Camp initiatives. These valuable programs benefit parents by alleviating the stress of finding care for their children while they need to work – specifically for PD days and March Break. They also provide a safe and inclusive camp experience for all children ages 4-12 years.

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

Torchlight Services Says “Thank You!” For Our June Donation

Kim Court, the Program Co-ordinator of Torchlight Services, has prepared a special “Thank You!” for all members of 100 Women Who Care Guelph.
Follow this link to their expression of thanks on our website.

What are Our Next Steps?

We’re starting to see changes, slowly but surely, to the way that we are able to do things.

Sixteen months ago, our world changed. Handshakes and hugs were replaced by hand sanitizer and masks. Connection used to be easy, but we have learned that we can still stay connected by being flexible during challenging times.

The steering committee is SO proud of our membership. Whatever the challenge we may have faced, you have been up to the task! Your commitment to giving back to the Guelph community has made it possible for us to donate more than $10,000 per quarter to eligible local charities. Congratulations to our membership for achieving this incredible success.

Currently, the situation is fluid. As soon as it is possible to host safe “in person” meetings, approved by local and provincial authorities, we will notify everyone by email and post information on the Upcoming Meetings page on our website.

Meanwhile, here is some food for thought from others whose lives have impacted many:

“No one has ever become poor by giving”

Anne Frank

“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”

Napoleon Hill

Thanks for your huge contribution to our success! Together, we really do make a difference…

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

Press Release October 2021 (YMCA of Three Rivers)

100 WWCG Invests in the YMCA PD Day, School Break Camp Program

Life has become much more complex for everyone with the advent of COVID-19, but none more so than for those who have children.

Working parents unable to work from home have faced the particular challenge of finding adequate care for their children during the week, when sending them to school is not an option.

For those already facing financial hurdles, needing to stay home with your children can mean risking losing your job or not being able to bring home enough money to make ends meet.

While parents face one kind of stress, children face another. Children desperately need connection and socialization with others to retain their physical and mental health, to keep on an even keel during challenging and unsettling times. Never has this need been greater.

The Guelph YMCA offers their support for both parents and children through their PD Day and School Break Day Camp. For the ten PD days and five days of March break this school year, parents can rest easy knowing their children are receiving quality care.

This Day Camp experience is offered to all children ages 4-12 years, providing a safe place to have essential childhood experiences while learning new skills and building resilience and confidence.

Last year, the YMCA in Guelph was able to provide subsidized camp experiences for 97 families who otherwise would not have been able to afford to send their children to Day Camp.

To ensure that the financial costs of the Day Camp are not an obstacle this year, 100 Women Who Care Guelph is pleased to invest their $10,000+ donation this quarter in families, helping provide necessary childcare when parents need to work.

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.

Torchlight Services Expresses Thanks for our June Donation

**Torchlight Services Receives the Donation Cheques From 100WWCG**

September 23, 2021

Dear 100 Women Who Care,

It has been 3 months since Torchlight received the great news that our organization was the successful charity. Your generous donation enabled us to continue to engage with our participants in a meaningful way through the Connect Virtual Program.

The Connect program offers virtual programming to underserved (due to pandemic restrictions) and isolated participants with disabilities.

Your donation amounted to just under $10,000. This allowed us the opportunity to continue to connect our participants with their community through the purchase of outside instructors. We were also able to re-hire our student program facilitators.

Your donation not only helped Torchlight Services and our participants, but it also supported small local businesses and students who have been struggling locating employment during this pandemic.

I know that there are many worthy charities that need support, especially during this time; and Torchlight is grateful for your generosity.

Thank you for the work you do in our community.

Sincerely,

Kim Court,

Program Co-ordinator, Torchlight Services [email protected]

Press Release June 2021 (Torchlight Services)

100 WWCG Pushes Back Against COVID Isolation By Supporting Torchlight Services

Torchlight Services has been working with individuals with disabilities since 1974 to ensure that each person is able to reach their full potential, helping them achieve full participation and inclusion within our community, and allowing the community in turn to celebrate their potential and citizenship.

Torchlight strives to positively impact each individual’s quality of life by offering a number of day programs. The participants work on honing their daily living skills, and experience personal growth through volunteer opportunities, recreational, cultural and social activities, and attention to health and fitness.

There is no doubt that the restrictions surrounding COVID-19 have led to an increased sense of isolation for everyone. For those in our community with disabilities, those feelings have been particularly acute.

Knowing how vital a sense of connection is to their participants’ health and well being, Torchlight went right to work to create their Connect Virtual Programs, providing a supervised, inclusive platform to help make connections, bolster friendships, and diminish that sense of isolation.

Their Virtual Program team provides 1-1 interaction to assist and support the participants in accessing the programs, while simultaneously offering critical person-centred support and engagement.

In response to the need to continue that program for our most vulnerable citizens, 100 Women Who Care Guelph has chosen Torchlight Services as the recipient of their $10,000+ donation this quarter.

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.

Our June Virtual Meeting

Three Members Want You to Know Why Their Chosen Charities Deserve Your Votes!

If you missed the chance to see the nomination draw, you can follow this link.

Hats off to the three dedicated 100WWCG members who volunteered to describe the significant work their charity undertakes and how our donation would be deployed to improve the service they provide to our community!

Our three chosen charities are:

The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital
(Nominated by Sharron Watson)
Follow this link to read Sharron’s presentation.

Torchlight Services
(Nominated by Diane Harvey)
Follow this link to read Diane’s presentation.

Guelph Youth Singers
(Nominated by Heather Mair)
Follow this link to read Heather’s presentation.

Important Announcement!

Torchlight Services

(Nominated by Diane Harvey)

Is the Recipient of our June 2021 Donation!

Our donation will allow Torchlight Services to continue their mission to “advocate for, promote, and facilitate the full participation, inclusion and empowerment of people who have a disability within the community.”

Torchlight has earmarked these funds to continue running virtual programs which help clients to socialize and engage in fun games and activities. The expected outcome will be a reduction of boredom and loneliness and an increased feeling of emotional well-being for program participants.

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