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“.

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.

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!!!

Have a fabulous day and enjoy the sunshine and we will see you soon!

Cheers

Debbie Pine

Chairperson

100+ Women Niagara