Mission Services Hamilton: Emma’s Place/Willow’s Place was the fortunate recipient of close to $11,000 at the November meeting of 100 Women Who Care Burlington (100WWCB).
The local chapter of 100 Women Who Care met at the Burlington Golf and Country Club on Monday evening to choose one of three charities that made presentations.
The fortunate non-profit, Mission Services of Hamilton is a multi-service organization.
Willow’s Place is a safe day space for women experiencing homelessness offering hot meals, showers, laundry, housing support and social connections.
Emma’s Place is a 15-bed shelter.
Upon discharge from area hospitals, homeless women often go to Willow’s Place, which serves five women monthly.
Neither Burlington nor Halton have homeless shelters specifically for women, and the same applies to a daytime space.
The funds from the donation will be used for a health day for women with various providers on site. Each woman would have a ‘passport’ to access foot care, haircuts, Naloxone kit training, covid/flu vaccinations, diabetes information, food, water, snacks, receive a backpack, winter coat and boots.
Jaclyn Smith, assistant director of outreach programs for women and children, told the group that the goal of the non-profit is to restore hope and empower people to find their way forward.
Thanks to Maria Rozakis Adcock and an anonymous donor, the other two presenting charities went home with $750 each: Halton Food For Thought and United Way for Halton and Hamilton.
Shelter Movers, September’s charity of choice gave an update on what the funds - $12,300 in total – will help accomplish. They currently help with moving services for all survivors of abuse, and women make up more than 90 per cent of their clients. The donated funds would be used to ramp up recruitment efforts in Halton, secure storage in the area, moving up to five individuals or families each month in Halton Region.
100WWCB meets for about one hour, four times a year, when three registered charities that serve Burlington or Halton are nominated. In total the group has donated close to $300,000 to 48 charities. Currently there are 120 members.
In 2025, the group meets: Monday, Jan. 13, Monday, April 14, Tuesday, Sept. 23 and Wednesday, Nov. 19.
To join 100 Women Who Care’s Burlington chapter, visit them online here.