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Dates & Data
"Gifts of Giving" Edition
Featuring
Ontario Clubs 'Giving Back' to Their Communities During this Holiday Season
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Season's Greetings from President Sandy!
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Celebrations. Peace. Joy. Giving...and giving comes second nature to
CFUW Ontario Council women. We bring you so many examples of
generosity, kindness, and faith in humanity. Enjoy reading about Ontario's
clubs in the season of hope.
Whatever faith, whatever beliefs.....let us join together in harmony and
embrace the magic with family and friends.
On behalf of the Ontario Council Board, may the spirit of the holidays be
with you throughout the New Year!
Sandra Thomson
President, CFUW Ontario Council
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GIFTS OF GIVING by ONTARIO CLUBS
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CFUW-Hamilton
CFUW-Hamilton recently presented a cheque for $5,000.00 to the McMaster University Institute for Music and the Mind (https://mimm.mcmaster.ca/), in support of a Florence Martin Graduate Student Research Grant. This is the first donation of a two-year commitment to fund graduate student research at the LIVELab-a performance theatre and testing centre for the scientific study of music, sound and movement.
CFUW-Hamilton President Myrtle Greve and other Club representatives made the presentation in the LIVELab, after which the group was given a tour of the facility. Florence Martin was a long-time member of CFUW-Hamilton and a generous supporter of the Club's Scholarship Fund over the years. The Institute for Music and the Mind was selected as the recipient of the research grant to honour Ms. Martin's love of music.
Photo 1 : Members attend...
A number of CFUW-Hamilton members attended the scholarship presentation and enjoyed a tour of the MIMM facility, led by Director Laurel Trainor.
Photo 2: MacLIVELab Scholarship Presentation
(L-R) Laurel Trainor, Director, McMaster Institute for Music & the Mind (MIMM)
Myrtle Greve, President CFUW-Hamilton, Trudi Down, Treasurer CFUW-Hamilton
Hamilton's Author Night, an annual fundraiser for their Scholarship Fund, was held Monday, December 4.
Anna Olson was the speaker - her topic
"The Holiday Season With Anna Olson". Members are baking butter tarts using Anna's Canada Day recipe and selling them at the event.
For the third year they are partnering with Inasmuch House, a women's shelter, by collecting personal care items and gifts. Once again this year, members responded generously. They do a collection twice a year. They also sold $600. worth of the Courage scarves in support of Inasmuch House.
At the December meeting of CFUW Etobicoke the Club runs a raffle which supports women's hostels in Etobicoke. Each Interest group and there are over forty, bring a gift for this. The gift is wrapped in clear plastic. Small trays are placed next to the item. Members place their tickets in the trays of items they would like to win. This event raised just over $2000 for Ernestine's
and
Women's Habitat located in Etobicoke!
CFUW Mississauga
This club has an entire season of giving!
In November the club contributes to the Shoe Box project.
In December there is a collection for Armagh House, Peel County's only shelter for abused women and their children, something members are committed to year after year.
In January members take up a collection for the Scholarship Trust in honour of the Montreal murdered women students.
CFUW Perth and District
Every year, for the past 12 years, CFUW Perth and District has held their Heritage Perth Christmas House Tour and major fund raiser as their key Christmas activity. This tour, conducted at the beginning of the Christmas season (the first weekend of December) is held in and around the lovely and historic town of Perth. Certainly one of the prettiest towns in all of Canada. And imagine these beautiful historical homes decorated for the Christmas season by designers and florists from the surrounding area! We are even blessed to have musicians playing Christmas music at each home.
At this time of giving and the festive spirit and when everyone is most generous, they hold their fundraiser which has provided funds to distribute close to $200,000 in education awards to women and girls to pursue post secondary education, to local youth groups, libraries and other organizations both National and International to aid in literacy and education activities.
Above is a photo of one of the eight homes included in the 2017 Heritage Perth Christmas House Tour. Just imagine this lovely home under a cover of snow, with a family heirloom sleigh out front, decorated for an old-fashioned Christmas and a warm fire glowing at any or all of the five fireplaces!
In addition, like many other CFUW clubs, Perth takes the time at our November and/or Christmas dinner meetings to remember the 14 young women murdered on 6 December 1989 in Montréal at L'École Polytechnique.
At our Christmas dinner, we collect donations in their honour.
University Women's Club of North York
Shoe Boxes For Christmas
Three years ago University Women's Club of North York participated in The Shoe Box Project for the first time as our local initiative in the CFUW national theme of Violence Against Women. They had no idea what the response would be and were truly thrilled with the level of participation from club members. They filled 87 shoe boxes and arranged for them to go to two North York shelters. Last year they collected 64.
This year 80 shoe boxes were delivered to the Pregnancy Care Centre for women who are facing unplanned pregnancy and seeking confidential information and caring support.
D
efinitely a wonderful response from their membership for a 3rd
year!
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MORE GIFTS OF GIVING by ONTARIO CLUBS
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CFUW North Bay
The generosity of their members is boundless, especially in this season of giving. The club hosts two events in December that exemplify this generosity: a Charitable Trust Dinner and a Christmas Social.
The Charitable Trust Dinner is held yearly to honour the memory of the 14 women who died December 6th 1989 at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. It is also an evening to learn more about domestic violence in the community and programs available for victims. Guest speakers are invited from community services such Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre, Police Services, Transition House, Victim Services, the Domestic Violence Community Coordinating Committee , the North East Women's Health Alliance and True Self. The Sexual Violence and Prevention and Education Coordinator of Nipissing University spoke this year.
The Dinner is also an opportunity to raise funds for the CFUW 1989 Ecole Polytechnique Commemorative Awards. The Charitable Trust Dinner is an evening of ceremony, reverence and reflection. This year is the 14th year of North Bay's Charitable Trust Dinner.
CFUW North Bay hosts a Christmas Social each year where they bring gifts to be given to women and children at Transition House
and
True Self. We also collect donations for the
Montessori Under the Tree School in Oltepesi Tanzania. The school is the vision of Brenda Robertson.
CFUW Peterborough
CFUW Peterborough celebrated the season at the Kawartha Golf and Country Club with their traditional
"Jingle and Mingle Luncheon"
on December 5.
At the luncheon, there was a raffle where guests won one of several beautiful gift baskets. They also collect gift cards to donate to those in need of a little extra cheer at this time of year. Gift cards from any local business (e.g. Walmart, Pharma Plus, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc.) are accepted. This year members raised $600 with this fundraiser!
The charity of choice this year is
YES - Peterborough's Youth Emergency Shelter.
CFUW Scarborough
Scarborough Club's Christmas project supports a local women's shelter, Juliette's. For some years now, members of the Club have packed holiday packages for the mothers at the shelter, rather than for the children. The logic underlying this decision was that the children are already well looked after by several other agencies in the area, whereas the women are not.
There have been a dozen to fourteen bags each year, depending on the number of women in residence. Members contribute toiletries, hand knitted hats and scarves as well as cash which goes towards larger articles such as nighties. Several members meet for a packing bee and then the completed bags are delivered to the shelter in time for Christmas.
CFUW Milton
The
Vanier Centre for Women Is a 333-bed medium and maximum
security facility for both remanded and sentenced female offenders.
During their annual Christmas dinner at the Holiday Inn members collect toiletries and deliver them to Vanier for these ladies.
At the holiday dinner the club will also be collecting donations for
Halton Women's Place,
the local shelter for abused women and
their dependent children. There is a list of what they most urgently need
on their website but (new) pajamas for women and children,diapers (size 5 & 6), baby supplies, small appliances, kitchen and bathroom cleaning supplies are always welcome!
Donations were being accepted until Tuesday, December 5 at all drop-off locations. Locations and downloadable Item Donation forms are available on the website under this link: Events/Festive dinner.
A big feature is our Silent Auction which raises money for their educational bursaries and high school grants. The items for the auction are donated by club members - either new or personal items they are passing along (vintage or otherwise and all in perfect condition). Traditionally, they have raised $4,500 at this evening.
The Club's Silent Auction will feature our traditional Mitten Tree
again this year. For a $5 donation to CFUW, members can choose which pair of mittens from the tree that will be given to
Community Care. That way both win: Community Care clients will get the mittens and their Scholarship Fund will benefit from the proceeds.
They also ask members to please consider tucking a $5.00 bill in their purses on the way to the dinner! Many thanks to Trish Loat, mitten knitter extraordinaire!
CFUW Oakville
This club's annual
Holiday Dinner is an opportunity to contribute to worthy causes. Our charity of choice this year is
Wellspring Birmingham
Gilman House which for over 17 years has provided programs on both a
drop-in and registered basis, for men, women, and children with any type of cancer and at any stage in their cancer journey
University Women's Club of Toronto
This year UWC Toronto will be helping
Sistering, a shelter which provides beds, meals and medical, psychological, social work and housing services to the women and girls. They also try to encourage education and to provide skills for the women to provide possibilities of employment and to enhance their self-esteem. They are setting up a sewing studio.
UWC Toronto has donated $10,000 to help with the studio and $5000 for some much needed improvements in the sleeping area.
They have also contributed to the education of refugee women and girls through their fundraiser for Romero House and raised $15,000 this year at our gala event: Hola! A Night in Seville.
CFUW Sudbury
Adopt-A-Family is the Club's community outreach program. Through the generous support of their membership as well as Community Partners, Sudbury families in need are provided with donations of gifts, food and toiletries at Christmas. The families chosen, through local schools and churches, do not receive help from any other agencies in the community.
Adopt-A-Family has raised over $70,000 with this program over the past 12 years. In 2016 members assisted 25 families and 61 children. All monies collected go directly to the families.
CFUW Kincardine
The club's Christmas Social and Dinner will take place on Monday December 11. Members are asked to bring an item for the
Food Bank,
a gift for The Women's House and a wrapped gift valued at $10. for a gift exchange between members!
CFUW Owen Sound and Area
The club will host their CHRISTMAS TEA (AND WINE!) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12. Members are asked to bring new personal care or clothing items to be donated to the Women's' Center.
CFUW Southport
Southport's Christmas Get Together will be held on Wednesday December 13th. Donations this year will go to the local Food Bank.
CFUW Guelph
Each year CFUW Guelph donates gift bags to a local charity that serves families, seniors, students, disabled, homeless and unemployed individuals. This bag can be the only Christmas gift many of these individuals receive. The bags are filled with socks, mittens, hats, hygiene products, toys, chocolate and other surprises. Many of their interest groups take this on as a Christmas project
.
Additionally at their November meeting the gardening interest group sells wreaths and centre pieces with proceeds going to different groups. This year's proceeds will go towards our club's 100th Anniversary Bursary.
CFUW Orillia
CFUW Orillia was honoured again this year to support the local Salvation Army Kettle Campaign. This is CFUW Orillia's fifth year participating and the first year they have staffed two locations.
Marg Hewgill and Kathy Rippey are shown staffing the kettle at their traditional location at the Orillia Metro store.
The Salvation Army theme, Giving Hope Today, resonates with members and gives them an opportunity to support the Army's great work.
CFUW Windsor
Every year at their Annual Holiday Party, CFUW Windsor and Friends donate to a local charity that provides support to those in need during the holiday season. This year the CFUW Windsor Planning Committee chose to support Street Help. Street Help Homeless Centre Of Windsor is a homeless drop-in centre operated by and for the homeless. They are a leading provider of services for the homeless. Some of these services include computers and internet services so the homeless can search for employment and housing. They provide advice on how to navigate the government services that are available to assist them with reintegration into the community. In addition the homeless shelter supplies free sleeping bags, weather mats, back packs, socks, clothing, footwear, and coats. They supply separate shower facilities for women and men, as well as hygiene products and also laundry service.
CFUW Windsor members will be collecting gloves and mittens, socks and monetary donations to assist Street Help in supporting as many people as possible in Windsor and Essex County this holiday season.
CFUW Welland
Instead of the regular meeting in December the club has a holiday dinner at a local restaurant. Usually they have 25 to 30 ladies attend. At that dinner, members collect gift cards and toiletries for
Women's Place, our local women's shelter.
The club holds an Appetizer Evening where members collect extra
Christmas cards to package with stamps. These are provided to the
local Food Bank so that their clients can send cards to their families.
CFUW Brantford
The club holds a "December Potluck" at the home of one of their members. New members receive a special mailed invitation to attend as honoured guests. (and they don't need to bring a potluck contribution or money).
A few dollars is collected to cover the cost of rental of dishes,
glasses etc. Money leftover is added to the Scholarship Fund.
CFUW Kitchener-Waterloo
At K-W members collect donations for their local Out of the Cold program. These include cash, mittens, warm socks, toiletries etc.
U.W.C Leaside-East York
At the Annual Wassail Party of the U.W.C. Leaside-East York held each December they collect funds for
The East York Y.W.C.A.
Women's Shelter. The money received is divided between the mothers in the shelter who in turn buy gift cards which are age appropriate. Last year members donated over $1,700.00. Pictured at right - Shelter Manager Carla Neto and Sybil Leacock.
U.W.C. Leaside-East York members
wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season!
CFUW Aurora/Newmarket
The members of CFUW Aurora/Newmarket continued their tradition of outreach to our community by gathering toiletries and packaging them into small gift bags. They were able to fill 259 gift bags for the guests at the Welcome Table Rise and Shine Breakfast and LAMP
(weekly community meals held in Aurora and Newmarket). A few larger sized items that wouldn't fit in the bags were donated to the
Aurora Food Pantry and
Welcoming Arms. When members all work together it is amazing what a big impact can be made in the community. They are already thinking ahead to 2018 and starting now to collect small toiletries (sample products, hotel toiletries etc.) to continue this outreach project again next year.
CFUW Haliburton Highlands
At their recent Christmas Luncheon members once again collected
gift cards from local merchants (mostly drug stores, fast food outlets, etc.) that would appeal to teenagers in, on average, $10 increments. These gift cards, totaled $410 this year! They will be divided between two organizations,
Point in Time Haliburton and the
Minden Food Bank.
They in turn will provide them to teenagers at Christmas as part of a Christmas package.
The club has been doing this for a few years now and as always their members are very generous and giving!
CFUW Markham Unionville
Each December CFUW Markham Unionville members enjoy a fabulous evening of camaraderie, comestibles and cocktails at The School Fine Dining. What a wonderful way to bid farewell to the year and raise money for their
Education Fund which supports the education of young
girls locally and in Guatemala.
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AND LET US NOT FORGET
ALL THE CLUBS WHICH RAISE MONEY FOR THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS BY HAVING
SILENT AUCTIONS, BOOK SALES, AND OTHER FUNDRAISERS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR!!!
MANY THANKS!
SANDY
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