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!

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/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.)