Tara Jeffrey
The generosity just keeps growing with Sarnia’s 100 Women Who Care chapter.
“We can actually see the benefit we are bringing to our community,” said Joanne Hines, who launched the chapter in 2015 and has since helped dole out more than $66,000 to seven deserving charities in Sarnia-Lambton.
“I think that’s why we keep growing and building; more and more people are coming out to meetings just to learn about the different charitable organizations in our community and the impact we’ve made.”
The group, which has surpassed 100 members, is designed for like-minded women who want to give back but don’t necessarily have the time.
Members meet for one hour, four times a year, each representing a local charity of choice; three names are drawn and each one presents on behalf of their organization. The entire group votes on where the money will go, and each woman writes a $100 cheque.
Most recently, the Brain Injury Association of Sarnia Lambton was the recipient of $10,500.
“They were so overwhelmed; this changes everything for them,” said Hines. “They don’t have the staffing to help promote their organization, because they’re all working to help the actual survivors, so they’re using this money to hire someone and they know this will make a huge impact.”
To date, the group has handed cheques, ranging from $7,000 to $10,500, to the Habitat for Humanity Sarnia-Lambton Women’s Build, Life’s Seasons, St. Joseph’s Hospice Caring Hearts for Children program, Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile, Sarnia-Lambton Rebound’s R-Lounge and Lambton Circles.
“It’s opening the doors for these organizations, even if they don’t receive the donation,” said Hines. “The awareness is really effective in helping them.”
Like many groups, Hines said she expected interest to taper off after the first year.
“But Sarnia is such a generous community that I think it’s just snowballing.”
Hines said there are still many people who don’t know about the chapter or may be confused about how it works.
“Everyone is more than welcome to come and just observe at these meetings, to see if it’s something they want to get involved in,” she said.
“We’ve actually started calling ourselves 100+ Women Who Care, because we don’t want anyone thinking it stops at 100.”
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, June 14 at the Holiday Inn, Point Edward, beginning with a ‘meet & mingle’ at 7 p.m., followed by presentations and voting at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, visit www.100whocaresarnia.com