Come Together - A Night of Impact and Connection

We had an incredible February evening, bringing together over 20 new members and reconnecting with over 50 familiar faces. The night was filled with inspiration and shared efforts toward making a positive difference in our community.

Meeting Highlights

Diaper Drive Donations: Haven on the Queensway
Thanks to YOUR generosity over 30 boxes/bags of diapers were provided to Haven on the Queensway!

Did you know?  

·       A month’s worth of diapers can cost up to $100

·       1 in 5 Canadian caregivers has experienced diaper need

·       Many day care centers require a 2 week supply of diapers to hold a child’s spot

The Impact: Not having access to diapers can impact a toddler’s ability to attend daycare, which in turn affects parents’ ability to work and generate income to support the family. Thank YOU for making life a little easier for others.

Trust15:  October 2024 Recipient
Marcia shared the profound impact of your support. 100 Women’s donation of $11,500 is extending funding for more students and boosting resources for their after-school program.

Fast Facts

Within the last 5 years…

·       93% of youth enrolled in Trust15’s Ladies on the Rise program have enrolled in post-secondary school

·       97% of youth enrolled in the Men of Distinction program have enrolled in post-secondary education

The Impact: More teenagers are feeling safe, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential.

Volunteer Day:  Youth Without Shelter (YWS)
In January, eight of our members dedicated four hours of their time to YWS, organizing clothing donations that were piling up in their meeting room over the holidays. Youth and staff can now use their meeting room for tutoring and events AND enjoy a nicely organized clothing boutique experience!  

Fun Fact : YWS was the very first charity 100 Women Who Care Toronto West supported back in 2019!

The Impact: 

Up to 2000 youth are homeless in Toronto on any given night…

·       YWS provides 33 youth a warm home, food and support

·       YWS supports kids staying at YWS and after they leave with a stay in school program, life skills training, mental health therapy, primary care clinic, new clothing, and more

Charity Nominations

Kindred Kitchen

Carolyn from Kindred Kitchen (located in Roncesvalles United Church) emotionally shared how our contribution would fund a new stove and fridge for their weekly Sunday dinners, serving 150 people in need (15,000 meals each year). Guests are not only treated to a meal, but are offered warm clothing, companionship and given a sense of dignity and belonging.

For more info email kindredkitchenruc@gmail.com

Received our primary donation: $9400.00

Bloor Street Food Bank

We heard firsthand from Karen and Maggie about the increasing demand for food banks, with the number of people facing food insecurity doubling across the city. The increased need is stretching the resources of the Bloor Street Food Bank. Our donation would allow them to buy fresh food and keep inventory on the shelves for clients in need. In the last few years, the Bloor Street Food Bank has really become more reliant on the generosity of the local community for volunteers and financial support.

For more info visit: https://bloorwestfoodbank.ca/

Received our secondary donation: $300.00

Rexdale Women’s Center

Rexdale Women’s Centre is an independent, not-for-profit, voluntary agency that serves high-need women and their families. Aswathy and Fuhmida told us about the

range of services this busy centre provides — from ESL courses and career support to newcomers assistance, health & wellness classes and a sense of community. A donation from 100 Women would allow for more programming and thus more meaningful connections and friendships for women in the Rexdale area.

For more info visit: https://www.rexdalewomen.org/

Received our secondary donation; $300

Steering Committee Update

Did you know? Orysia, Sarah, Louise, and Tammy along with Laura Barker, Susan Mazan and Orysia Smith founded 100 Women Who Care Toronto West in 2019.

After 5 years of caring and countless hours of organizing, Orysia, Sarah and Louise are stepping down from their roles on the steering committee in December 2025.

During this meeting, Sarah provided an overview of the roles we are looking to fill; including digital diva (website & emails), social media maven and community outreach positions. Seven wonderful women approached us to fill these roles and we couldn’t be happier to welcome Danielle Bianco, Janelle Blair, Patrice Lindsay, Karen Hales, Kathy Kruk, and Kate Brundage to the organizing committee!  We look forward to their help and fresh ideas.

Got an idea to grow our community and make an even bigger impact? 🌟 We're always looking for fresh ways to support small charities and create connections amongst members. Email us at torontowest100women@gmail.com

We celebrated 5 years together! Congratulations ladies for being amazing members supporting charities in our local community. Thanks to our 3 presenting charities and nominating members. Trust 15 received our primary donation of $11,200 and Moorelands Kids and Waterstone Foundation will receive $300 secondary donations. We had some extra sweater gifts supplied by The Crooked Cue and Nothing Bundt Cakes donated a gift certificate for the door prize. Our major sponsors ReMax Professionals and The Crooked Cue have been with us from the start and we couldn’t do any of this without you. Thanks from the bottom of our hearts.

We danced! The MAY I have this Dance meeting was a lot of fun despite the no dancing part due to technical difficulties…maybe we will try again sometime! Thank-you to Aretha Khaloo and Susan Carbone who accepted our $10,400 donation from the last meeting and discussed the impact it had on Haven on the Queensway . We listened to great presentations from Balance for Blind Adults by Windy Ho Li, Concord in the City presented by Melissa Ray, and Frontlines presented by Strachen Fredrick. Concord in the City will receive our primary donation of $9700.00 and the other charities will receive secondary donations in the amount of $300.00 each. Thanks to all involved in the night of dancing.

LOVE was in the Air when we gathered to hear our lovely member presenters Teresa Masilwec and Ameena Marsh present Haven on the Queensway and The New Leaf Foundation respectively. Maureen Lewis from Stella’s Place returned to inform us about the positive impact our donation is having on young people in our community. Haven on the Queensway will receive our primary donation amounting to $10,400 and since there were only two nominations New Leaf will receive the decondary donation of the full $600.

As always, we are so grateful to the Crooked Cue for hosting our group.

Thank-you 100 Women- you are LOVE- ly!

The Coolest Women You Know collectively donated $11,900! Congratulations to Stella’s Place who received our primary donation of $11,300. Secondary donations of $300. go to 482 Collective and Etobicoke Humane Society. Thanks to all of you for being so COOL and making a very COOL impact on our community.

Together we definitely made some magic tonight. Thank-you 100 Women Who Care- Toronto West.

Our chosen charity for this meeting was The Sashbear Foundation. They will receive our primary donation of $10,200. Dinner with Dignity and Haven on the Queensway will receive $300 secondary donations.

Mark your calendars for our next meeting on 26 September 2023!

A Sweet Meeting celebrating everything everything sweet about Toronto West. Our sweet donation of $9,500 went to The Dorothy Lea Hospice and honorariums of $300 went to The Etobicoke Humane Society and Furniture Bank.

A great gathering to celebrate three years and $150,000 worth of giving in our community. Thank-you 100 Women.

The chosen charity was Mabelle Arts. They will receive your $$10,300 donation. Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame and Humber Valley UC- Afghanistan Refugee Family will receive $300 honourariums.

Mark your calendars for our next event on February 7th, 2023.

We returned in person, to our home at the Crooked Cue, to support displaced Ukrainian persons in our community. Yorktown Family Services started the night off with a big thank-you for our April donation to their organization.

Three impassioned speeches were delivered on behalf of the Ukrainian Youth Association, Ukrainian- Canadian Social Services and St. Demetrius Catholic School. It had been, decided in advance by membership, that each of the charities would split the final donation amount raised- $17,700. Each of these charities have clear and impressive visions regarding the potential impact of the donations and we wish them well in their efforts.

It was a beautiful night to have Ukrainian in our hearts, to celebrate Ukrainian strength and courage, and to give generously to help. Thanks to all who participated!

The Home Show invited us to host our event at the Enercare Centre. It was a night to celebrate being together again and supporting important work in our community.

We heard a moving presentation from Sheena’s Place about the impact of our donation on their valuable programming and our members did a fantastic job on the Main Stage teaching us about the presenting charities.

The vote decided that Yorktown Family Services will receive the large donation of $9400 and The Furniture Bank and High Park Zoo will receive honorariums of $300 each.

Thanks to the Home Show and our members for your support!

On 23 November 2021 we held a hybrid in-person and Zoom meeting to celebrate two milestones: our 2nd year anniversary and raising over $100,000 for local charities.

Carmelina’s Home presented an accounting of the impact our last donation had on their programs to support women with addictions and emotional issues. Three of our member presentations introduced us the New Leaf, Sheena’s Place, and Furniture Bank charities. There were several questions and thoughtful discussions raised by membership in the question period.

After voting Sheena’s Place was awarded our large donation of $10,625. The other two charities tied in the voting pole and will receive honorariums of $300 each.

The harvest was a good one. For the first time we attempted an in-person and Zoom hybrid meeting. There were some challenges.

We appreciated your patience and understanding as we navigated this new format.

In the gratitude section of the evening, Etobicoke Support Services provided us with a detailed account of the impact of our donation to them in April. The three charities that presented were Carmelina’s Home, ONECHILD, and Parkdale Project Read.

After the closest voting results ever, Carmelina’s Home will receive your donation of $11,075. The other two charities will receive an honorarium of $300 each.

Our opening meeting for 2021 was a well attended virtual meeting.

Yvan Baker joined in to congratulate the 100 Women Who Care Toronto West group for their Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Community Award. We had a report from the Daily Bread Food Bank regarding our contribution to their efforts and listened to three compelling presentations from Abbey’s Goal, High Park Nature Centre, and Etobicoke Support Services.

The chosen charity was Etobicoke Support Services. They will receive a total of $11,500. The other two charities will receive secondary donations of $300. each.

Remember to plant your wild flowers and send us some beautiful spring photographs !

Happy Anniversary!

It has been an incredible first year and tonight we celebrated with The Moodivator Carole Bertuzzi Luciani, had an update from the Jean Augustine Centre about the use of your donations, listened to three passionate speeches from Balance for the Blind, College Montrose Children’s Place Gooch Family Resource, and Daily Bread Food Bank, and enjoyed some fun gift giving.

The charity that will receive your generous donation from this meeting will be Daily Bread Food Bank in the amount of $13,000.

This September meeting found us zooming into our community to learn the incredible impact your donations have made for people in need of services at The George Hull Centre and Women’s Habitat.

The charity that received our donation of $12,850. for this meeting is Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment. We look forward to hearing about the impact at our next meeting.

Our third meeting was a successful virtual Zoom meeting.

Membership demonstrated their flexibility, kindness, and generosity as we navigated this new normal together! Together strong.

The charities that will receive your donations of $7675. each are The George Hull Centre and Women’s Habitat.

At our second meeting, our numbers expanded, as did your generosity of community and spirit. The chosen charities were Ernestine’s Shelter and The Stop. Each charity will receive $10,200 donations.

Mark your calendars for our next event on May 05, 2020!

We appreciate the support of our wonderful Toronto West community and believe these photos attest to the "buzz" in the room where so many women gathered together!

The chosen charity was Youth Without Shelter. They will receive our $18,250.00 donation.

Mark your calendars for our next event on January 28, 2020!