Greetings Ladies,I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who made it out to our meeting last night. It was truly inspiring to gather together and catch up and network with each other. We heard from last month’s winning charity about where our donations were used. Thank you to James who spoke in detail about Toolbox Niagara. What a great organization he is heading up. The cinch bags he showcased, proudly displaying our 100+ Women Niagara logo, are a fantastic addition to our efforts in the community. I can’t express how exciting it is to have something so meaningful and branded that represents our collective mission! See the photos attached. We were all so eager to see what was inside each one. They are stocked with men’s socks, mitts, tuques, snacks and toiletries. Thank you James for an excellent presentation and explanation.Our winning charity is the Resource Centre at Start Me Up Niagara. A special thank you goes to Sam for her insightful presentation about Start Me Up NiagaraResource Centre. Her thorough explanation of the essential services they provide resonated deeply with all of us. It was wonderful to see the overwhelming support from the ladies as we voted to back this vital charity. Together, we are truly making a difference in the lives of those in need.Start Me Up Niagara (SMUN) is a non-profit organization celebrating 25 years of serving individuals facing significant life challenges across the Niagara Region. Through a wide range of programs—including the Resource Centre, Work Action Centre, Bike Me Up, medical services, and food initiatives—SMUN empowers people with tools, skills, and confidence to move forward. Its Resource Centre & Kitchen Program serves as a lifeline for those struggling with poverty, homelessness, and mental health challenges, offering essential supports such as meals, hygiene kits, housing referrals, and access to medical and counselling services. In 2024 alone, the Centre served over 13,000 meals and connected hundreds of individuals to vital community resources.Food security remains central to SMUN’s mission, with local partners providing donations that support both clients and other community agencies. One highlight is their school lunch program, which delivers weekly meals to 180 food-insecure children in three local schools—helping fill critical nutritional gaps on weekends and holidays. The agency’s work is sustained entirely through private donations and community support, with no government funding. Stories like ‘Jeff’s’—a man overcoming immense personal challenges to achieve employment and independence—illustrate the transformative impact of SMUN’s compassionate, community-driven approach. Continued funding is vital to keep the Resource Centre’s doors open and ensure Niagara’s most vulnerable residents are supported with dignity and care.Please click below to make your donation. Here is a link for your online donation:As we look ahead, I am eager to see everyone again in the new year! Our meeting dates have been set, so please mark your calendars. Let’s continue to grow in our mission to support our community and each other. Please see the attached card with all the dates for 2026.Thank you once again for your commitment, passion, and enthusiasm. Together, we can achieve great things!CheersDebbie PineChairperson100+ Women Niagara
Next Meeting
Greetings Ladies,
I am excited to remind you of our upcoming meeting on Thursday, November 6. This is a great opportunity for us to come together, network, meet new people and strengthen our community.
As we strive to make our group more effective, I want to emphasize the importance of participation. While we have nearly 100 members on our list, only about 25 are actively involved. To truly make a difference, we need 100% participation from everyone.
I encourage each of you to invite family, friends, colleagues—anyone who might be interested in joining our efforts. New members bring fresh perspectives and energy, which are vital for our growth.
Let’s work together to build a more vibrant and active community. Your involvement matters!
Looking forward to seeing all of you on November 6! Here are the meeting details:
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Grantham Optimist Youth Club, 188 Linwell Road., St. Catharines
6 PM to 6:45 PM – Networking
6:45 PM to 7 PM – Registration
6 PM to 6:45 PM – Networking
6:45 PM to 7 PM – Registration
7:00 PM – Meeting starts
We’re excited to introduce a new networking opportunity starting at 6:00 PM, followed by registration at 6:30 PM, and our meeting will commence at 7:00 PM. Feel free to arrive early to network and connect with fellow members!
We will hear from Toolbox Niagara about the exciting things they were able to do with our donations. If you have not donated there is still time. To make a donation your 100+ Women Niagara Donation: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/toolbox-project
(Note: The ZEFFY platform automatically adds a suggested processing fee at checkout. You can adjust this amount to whatever you prefer, including setting it to $0. This ensures your full $100 donation goes directly to support the Toolbox Project.)
As always, we’ll be collecting toiletries that you may no longer need or would like to donate to various organizations in need. Your contributions make a real difference!
Cheers,
Debbie Pine
100+ Women Niagara Chair
September Winning Charity
Thank you all for joining us for our September meeting last night! It’s truly inspiring to see our community growing stronger together.
It was wonderful to catch up with each of you and share in our collective mission.
A special congratulations to our winning charity, The Toolbox Project, nominated by Emily Fieguth. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Nicole Lalonde for nominating Pelham Cares.
When completing your online donation to the Toolbox Project, please include “100+ Women Niagara” in the comment section of your donation so we can track our collective impact.
Together, we are making a difference!
Here is the info:
Toolbox Project –Spreading Hope, One Care Package at a Time
Founded in 2017 by James Symons, the Toolbox Project began as a simple but powerful idea to provide care packages to homeless men in Niagara during the Christmas season. As the need grew, so did the project’s reach. In 2024, the program officially expanded to include women and youth, ensuring that all individuals facing housing insecurity across the Niagara Region are supported during the holidays. This growth reflects both the changing needs of the community and the project’s unwavering commitment to compassion and dignity. Through partnerships with EMS, Niagara Regional Police, and over 25 social service providers, the Toolbox Project has delivered nearly 6,500 care packages over the past eight years, each one filled with essential hygiene and comfort items.
As Rachel, Program Coordinator at Niagara Shelter Services, puts it: “To hand someone a gift when they expected nothing… it’s powerful. These bags allow us to share more than just supplies—they carry hope.”
Collection Bins: From October 30 to November 27, collection bins will be placed across Niagara to gather items for the 2025 care packages. The goal is to create 1,500 kits for distribution on December 11. Items needed include: travel-size shampoo, conditioner and lotion, toothbrush & toothpaste, deodorant, bar of soap & washcloth, warm socks, gloves, toques, pens, notepads, puzzle books, deck of cards granola bars & wrapped candy. In addition, the project is seeking businesses and community partners in Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Welland, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines to host collection bins. If you or your business can help, please reach out to James at toolbox@startmeupniagara.ca
To make a donation your 100+ Women Niagara Donation: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/d
(Note: The ZEFFY platform automatically adds a suggested processing fee at checkout. You can adjust this amount to whatever you prefer, including setting it to $0. This ensures your full $100 donation goes directly to support the Toolbox Project.)
Our next meeting is Thursday, November 6, 2025
188 Linwell Road., St. Catharines
Networking starts at 6:00 pm
Meeting starts at 7:00 pm
Thank you ladies again. Any concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime.
Cheers
Debbie Pine
Chairperson
100+ Women Niagara
May 1 Winning Charity
Greetings Ladies,
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended last night’s meeting. We heard some fabulous presentations, and it’s always so interesting to learn about the different local Niagara charities. There are so many wonderful organizations out there that often go unnoticed unless we belong to a group like ours.
I’m excited to share that our winning charity for the evening was Birchway Niagara. A special thank you to Nicolle Lalonde for nominating and presenting on behalf of Birchway Niagara. Your contribution of $100 from is more than a donation—it’s a powerful statement of solidarity with women and children in our community who are courageously rebuilding their lives after experiencing abuse. Thanks to your support, we can provide:
- Safe shelter and a secure place to stay for survivors fleeing violence
- Crisis counselling, advocacy, and support to help women and children heal
- Assistance with safety planning, legal supports, and connections to vital resources
- Outreach services for those who are not staying in shelter but still need help
At Birchway Niagara, we serve hundreds of women and children each year through our emergency shelter, transitional housing, outreach programs, and education initiatives. Every bed we provide, every counselling session we offer, and every door we help open toward safety and stability is made possible through the compassion of people like you.
Your gift ensures that survivors aren’t alone—and that safety, hope, and new beginnings are within reach. Thank you for choosing to care so deeply and for joining us in building a community free from violence.
Please use the donation link below.
https://birchway.ca/donate/ (under where it says private message please put 100+ Women Niagara so we can keep track)
Our next meeting will be:
Thursday, September 4.
Grantham Optimist Youth Club, 188 Linwell Road., St. Catharines
6 PM to 6:45 PM – Networking
6:45 PM to 7 PM – Registration
7:00 PM – Meeting starts
Looking forward to our next gathering and more inspiring discussions!
Cheers,
Debbie Pine
Chairperson 100+ Women Niagara
Tonight’s Meeting
Thank you ladies for all your support as we continue to grow back this organization. If we work together, I know we can make this group bigger and better than ever. I am confident that together we can do it. So, for tonight’s meeting please try and invite 10 ladies who you know that would love to make a difference in our community of Niagara! Ladies who live, breathe, and love Niagara. Together we can do this!!!
Our next meeting is tonight:
Thursday, May 1, 2025
The Grantham Youth Optimist Centre, 188 Linwell Road, St. Catharines.
Networking starts at 6:00 pm with the meeting starting at 7:00 pm
Grab a friend or two and come and join us. See you there.
Winning Charity – March 6
Good morning Ladies,
Happy Friday! Thank you to all who attended last night’s meeting. It was great to see so many smiling faces braving that bitter wind last night.
We heard from Start Me Up Niagara regarding where our donations were used.
Last night’s winning charity nominated by Emily Fieguth was the “The Farmworker Hub NOTL“.
The Farmworker Hub NOTL
Our mission is to provide a friendly, safe, central location where Niagara-on-the-Lake’s seasonal agricultural workers can get access to products needed for everyday living -at no cost- donated by residents, charities and businesses. We work together to foster trusting and caring relationships with Niagara-on-the-Lake’s migrant farmworkers by connecting with the and supporting their needs in tangible, meaningful ways. We are neighbours helping neighbours.
In 2024 we served approximately 1500 seasonal agricultural workers employed by farms within the Niagara-on-the-Lake area. We provide new work boots, wellness bags with personal hygiene items, clothing and household items all donated from local residents and businesses. Being in a central area in Virgil, we are able to partner with different organizations to provide access to services such as healthcare, legal aid, informational sessions in both English and Spanish. We hope to provide weekly ESL classes as of April 2025.
With the funds donated, we hope to provide more social support to our friends on the farms. During our open season, workers who visit the Hub have access to a space where they can meet others, play games like pool and foosball, and enjoy snacks, coffee, and tea. This space was created to support their mental health and well-being by providing a sense of community and reducing feelings of isolation due to distance from family, friends, and the language barrier many will encounter. We look forward to creating more memories with our neighbours on the farms.
To make your online donation please click the link below:
Next to the dollar amount there is a drop down that you need to click. The option that should be chosen is Migrant Worker Resource Centre.
When you insert your name, please put 100+ Women in brackets beside it. eg: Debbie Pine (100+ Women)
This will help us track our donations. Thank you.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude ladies for all your support as we continue to grow back this organization. If we work together, I know we can make this group bigger and better than ever. We have not recovered from pre-Covid numbers, but I am confident that together we can do it. So, for the next meeting please try and invite 10 ladies who you know that would love to make a difference in our community of Niagara! Ladies who live, breathe, love Niagara. Together we can do this!!!
Our next meeting will be:
Thursday, May 1, 2025
The Grantham Youth Optimist Centre, 188 Linwell Road, St. Catharines.
Networking starts at 6:30 pm with the meeting starting at 7:00 pm
Have a fabulous day and enjoy the sunshine and we will see you soon!
Cheers
Debbie Pine
Chairperson
100+ Women Niagara
New Year & Next Meeting
Greeting Ladies,
Happy New Year and I hope you are all staying warm with this winter chill we are having!
As we step into 2025, I wanted to take a moment to welcome each and every one of you back to what I believe will be an exciting and impactful year for our group. Last year brought us many successes, but as we reflect on our recent charity event, we noticed that less than 30 members contributed. This highlights the need for us to grow our membership and strengthen our community.
Every voice and every contribution matters, and together, we can make an even greater difference. I am thrilled to announce our first meeting of the year is scheduled for:
Thursday, March 6 at 7 PM (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Grantham Optimist Youth Centre
188 Linwell Road, St. Catharines
This will be a wonderful opportunity for us to reconnect, share ideas, and discuss how we can increase our numbers and expand our reach within the community. I truly believe that with your support and enthusiasm, we can step it up this year, ladies! I look forward to seeing all of you there and hearing your thoughts on how we can make this year our best yet.
Also, if you have any toiletries that you want to bring, we will make sure that they are donated to the places that need them most.
We will be hearing from Start Me Up Niagara, our last winning charity to see how our monies have helped them.
Please invite a family member, friend or work colleague and let’s strive to thrive in 2025! See you in March!!
Cheers,
Debbie Pine
Chairperson
Our Next Meeting
Greetings Ladies & Happy Fall
I hope you are enjoying this fabulous sweater/boot weather…I LOVE this time of year!
Our next meeting will be on Thursday, November 7th. The doors will open at 6:30 pm with the meeting starting at 7:00 pm.
We will be meeting at The Grantham Youth Optimist Centre, 188 Linwell Road, St. Catharines.
Please ask a family member or friend to join you and let’s grow this organization together. I have attached a flyer you can send to people you want to invite.
We will hear from “BIAFE” for a few minutes on where your monies from the last meeting were spent.
If you wish to nominate a charity, please make sure you are in attendance to be able to do so. If chosen to present, you will have 5-6 minutes to explain the charity to our members.
Looking forward to seeing everyone and hopefully lots of new faces. We need to grow our numbers ladies…I know we can do it, but I need your help!! SPREAD THE WORD!!
IMAGINE….If every member brings 1 friend we can double overnight!
Any questions or concerns please reach out to me by email or text me at 905 321 2261
Cheers Debbie Pine Chairperson 100+ Women Niagara 100 + Women - become a member
Winning Charity September 5th
Greetings Ladies,
Thank you to all of you who were at the meeting last night and listened to presentations from our recipient from May and the charities vying for this meeting’s donations.
Thank you to Shirley from Niagara Children’s Village who let us know what our donations were used for at the Children’s Village.
Congratulations to our winning charity from last night, The Brain Injury Association of Fort Erie & South Niagara. Thank you Jonna for your great nomination and presentation for this charity.
Brain Injury Association of Fort Erie & South Niagara
In 1987, Jackie Denham and Shirley Athoe founded the Brain Injury Association of Fort Erie (BIAFE), one of Ontario’s earliest BIAs (Brain Injury Associations), out of sheer necessity and compassion. Inspired by their son’s journey with acquired brain injuries and the absence of local support networks, Jackie and Shirley took it upon themselves to create a community where individuals facing similar challenges could connect, share experiences, and provide vital support to one another. The vision wasn’t just about their family’s needs but also about fostering an inclusive environment where all families impacted by brain injuries could find solace and assistance. Through their initiative, they not only established hope but also laid the groundwork for countless others to find understanding and solidarity in their journey toward recovery and acceptance.
Our mission is to provide unwavering support, advocacy, and resources to individuals and families affected by brain injuries. We strive to enhance understanding and acceptance while promoting resilience and empowerment.
We envision a future where every person affected by a brain injury receives compassionate care, comprehensive resources, and opportunities for recovery and participation in society.
BIAFE continues to be a beacon of hope for our community.
To donate: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/60301
Charity Number: 127049484RR0001
Please use the donate button above and where it asks “In Honour of” please put 100+ Women Niagara so we can keep track of our donations.
If you wish to do cash or cheque please message me and we can arrange that as well.
Thank you ladies for your continued support of our organization. Together we can grow to more than 100+ Women. Changing Niagara 1 meeting at a time!
See you in November!
Blessings,
Debbie Pine
September 5, 2024 Meeting
Hello Ladies. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and this beautiful weather that we have been having.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday, September 5th. The doors will open at 6:30 pm with the meeting starting at 7:00 pm.
Please ask a family member or friend to join you and let’s grow this organization together.
We will hear from “The Children’s Safety Village” for a few minutes on where your monies were spent.
Looking forward to seeing everyone and hopefully lots of new faces.
Any questions or concerns please reach out to me by email or text me at 905 321 2261
Cheers
Debbie Pine
100+ Women Niagara Chairperson
