100+ Women Who Care Quinte celebrate two years of giving back to the community with a donation to the Coats For Kids program on September 6, 2017. (L-R: back row: Lisa Anne Chatten, Tawnya Smith. Front row: Julie Carson, Connie Carson, Belleville Police Det. Constable. Ann Earle-Dempsey and Rosi Ouellette.)(Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
A local women’s group synonymous with giving back to the community has celebrated a milestone by ensuring children stay warm this winter.
On Wednesday night, the 100+Women Who Care Quinte group rang in two years of membership at the Greek Banquet Hall in Belleville by donating over $10,000 to the Adopt-A-Child – Coats For Kids program. (An exact figure will be announced at a cheque presentation set for a later date.)
Now in its 30th year, the Adopt-A-Child program relies solely on community donations to provide new snowsuits and boots to children of low income working families as well as those on social assistance in Belleville, Stirling-Rawdon, Centre Hastings, Deseronto and Prince Edward County.
Program chair and Belleville Police Det. Constable Ann Earle-Dempsey said this is welcomed funding for the initiative that is expected to help local families provide 1,300 children with snowsuits and boots this year.
Registration for the annual program runs from September 13 to 29 at the Children’s Safety Village in Belleville located at 93 Dundas St, E. It is open to all families from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Anyone wishing to donate to the Adopt-A-Child program can contact the Belleville police at (613) 966-0882 ext: 4100 or Quinte Broadcasting at (613) 969-5555.
100+ Women Who Care Quinte. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
During the meeting, hundreds of women cheered upon learning that collectively they have donated $120,310 to seven previous charities over the course of two years such as the Hastings Prince Edward Canadian Mental Health Association’s bereavement program, the Three Oaks Foundation and Help Them Play. The group meets four times a year. Participants can donate $100 individually or as part of a team of four to one of three randomly selected charities.
100+ Women Who Care Quinte leadership committee member Lisa Anne Chatten said it’s groundbreaking to have this kind of an impact in the community.
“I have never seen anything like it,” Chatten beamed. “I have never seen the amount of pride that I have in this room with any other organization. When they walk in the door they are so happy. There is such camaraderie, such networking. I couldn’t imagine not being a part of this.”
To find out more about how to join 100+ Women Who Care Quinte or nominate a charity for funding click here.
