At the February 2025 meeting the successful recipient of $18,400 was HN Women’s Services – presented by Ashley Malo. The other two charities selected to present were: Waterford Skate Park, presented by Kerry Bockenholt, sponsored by Jill Chuli (member) and Church Out-Serving, presented by Shaena Rieckermann.
HN Women’s Services provides support services to women, children and youth in Norfolk County who have experienced gender-based violence. They offer 24-hour crisis intervention, counselling, advocacy, and residential shelter services for victims who need a place of safety to stay away from their abusive situation. The Women’s Shelter is helping women rebuild their lives, heal from abuse, develop resiliency and move towards living violent-free lives. This continues to be a challenge as resources are stretched to the limit and affordable, reliable & safe housing is difficult to find.
The money donated will go to paying down the mortgage on the “Little House” and will bring the organization closer to their goal of complete financial independence. Through this donation and other fundraising efforts, they expect to pay off the mortgage by December 2025.
What is the “Little House”? This was a project embarked upon in 2019 when the HNWS partnered with Habitat for Humanity and renovated a small home located on the HNWS property in Simcoe. It offers a safe haven for a mother and her children which is close to the support and resources offered by the shelter. The “Little House” is rented out at an affordable & equitable rate.
