ESCAPE

A Decrease font size. A Reset font size. A Increase font size.

Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Visit our youtube channel Plus one us Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive for July, 2011

Nellie’s HerShare Program

Posted on: July 28th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

Every Thursday morning at Nellie’s, women gather for HerShare, a weekly educational and peer support group for women at the shelter and in the community.  Held in our recently renovated accessible Community Support & Outreach Office, HerShare provides women with a space to engage with each other to reduce isolation, while also providing an opportunity to learn through presentations and workshops.

 The goal of the HerShare Program is to increase women’s capacity to access services outside of Nellie’s on their own.  Many of the women who come to HerShare, especially those who are new to the country, are unaware of the resources for support that exist in their community.    The program is especially important for women who have recently left the shelter, providing them with a continued source of education and peer support as they make their transition back in to the community. 

 At a recent session of HerShare, our local bank manager from The Bank of Montreal joined us to host a workshop on basic financial skills, including how to open a  bank account.    This week  a representative from East Toronto Community Legal Services  is holding a Community Legal Clinic on landlord and tenant rights.

 Whether it’s health, employment, legal, financial or educational assistance that is needed, HerShare helps connect women with the resources that enable them to  better advocates for themselves and other women.   

Namaste for Nellie’s with Park Yoga

Posted on: July 28th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

This summer Trixie Montanile of Atma Shakti Yoga is hosting weekly Park Yoga classes in honour of the women and children at Nellie’s!  Participants can enjoy a 60 minute invigorating yoga practice while doing some good for themselves and others. 

Trixie began Park Yoga in 2005 as a way to give back to the community.  She explains, “Park Yoga brings members of the community together to do something positive for themselves, while at the same time helping others.  In that way we are expressing the purest meaning of yoga, that we are all connected.”

Park Yoga will run throughout the summer until October, Wednesdays at 7:00pm and Saturdays at 10:00am at Riverdale Park (beside the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen) and Sundays at 10:30am at Greenwood Park (off Alton Ave, NW end of soccer field) and at 12:30pm at the Leslieville Farmer’s Market , Jonathan Ashbridge Park.

For more information, please click here or visit www.atmashaktiyoga.com

Help us arrive with bells on!

Posted on: July 25th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

Living in a big city is difficult without access to efficient and affordable transportation.  When women come to Nellie’s they are provided with basic necessities like shelter, food, and clothing, but the isolation that comes from living in poverty in an unfamiliar place can be difficult to break. That’s why this summer we’re starting a Bike Sharing Program for the women and children at Nellie’s Shelter! 

Last week Nellie’s Counsellor Meghan Hogg appeared on the CBC to talk about this program.  You can check out her interview here.

 Due to the generosity of a few amazing individuals we’ve already started collecting some bikes, but there are still many ways you can help!  We need locks, helmets, bells, and lights to keep our women and children safe while riding. Take a look below to see what we still need.  You can help make this summer one to remember for the women and children at Nellie’s!

Here’s what we need:

  • 5 women’s bikes
  • 15 children’s bikes
  • 35 each of locks, helmets, bells, and lights   

You can help us provide women with access to bikes that will not only increase their mobility and physical wellness, but most importantly allow them to connect with their community, access support, and have some FUN in the process! 

Please contact us at 416-461-0769 or info@nellies.org for more information or to donate

The Miracle Movement presents Lighters for Nellie’s

Posted on: July 22nd, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

On Friday August 12th, over 300 young adults are expected at Shingar Banquet Hall in Brampton to enjoy a gala event in honour of the women and children at Nellie’s.  Hosted by The Miracle Movement, this event will feature music, dancing, and a live performance by Bhangra Dance Team N.Y.P.D. 

We are so honoured to have The Miracle Movement host this event on our behalf because we think they are such an amazing organization.  Formed last summer by “five ordinary teenagers who set out to make an extraordinary change”, their inaugural fundraising event raised over $5000!  

This year Nellie’s will receive the funds raised at “Lighters” because The Miracle Movement wants to make a difference in the lives of people who need help.  At Nellie’s we know that it is only with the support of others that we are able to provide shelter, support, and dignity to the women and children who arrive at our doors. 

The Miracle Movement has this quote on their facebook page: “Miracles don’t just happen on their own, we make them happen together.”   We are so grateful to have such extraordinary individuals working together with us to build a world free from violence. 

For more information on this event and to purchase tickets, please click here or e-mail miraclemovement@live.ca .

Countdown to Nellie’s Summer Kids Camp!

Posted on: July 15th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

In just two weeks, we will be starting our Summer Kids Camp!

From music, art, cooking, sports, and outings around the city, children from Nellie’s shelter and community will have the opportunity to engage in social, recreational, and educational experiences they otherwise would not have.

This summer we’re excited to have students from  OCAD University volunteer once a week to do an art project with the children.  In addition to donating their time, the students will be bringing all the art supplies, and even staying to make lunch for the children. What a wonderful treat this will be!

One of our Summer Camp participants, Diana, has been attending for the past 2 years.  Normally quiet and shy, Diana was hesitant at first about coming to Nellie’s Camp, but she quickly made friends and soon began what she describes as her “best summer ever.”    To hear more about Diana’s story, you can click here.

Nellie’s Summer Kids  Camp exemplifies our committment to supporting the children who accompany their mothers to our shelter and outreach programs.  We recognize both the vulnerability of children and the great potential they possess and strive to support children through programs and services that effect change and remove barriers, with the ultimate goal of ending the cycle of poverty in their lives.

Look out for more updates about Nellie’s Summer Kids Camp throughout the summer.

More than half of women who experience violence never report

Posted on: July 13th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

According to a recent article in The Vancouver Sun , most women who are abused do not report to the police.  Citing the Statistics Canada report “Shelters for Abused Women, 2010”, the article highlighted that 60% of women who accessed shelters across Canada in 2010 chose not to contact police.  This means that more than half of violent incidents against women are never reported. 

Also mentioned was the fact that admission to women’s shelters is increasing.  In the same report, Statistics Canada noted that between 2009 and 2010 about 64,500 women were admitted to shelters across Canada, up 2% from 2008.  At Nellie’s, the number of women who sought refuge at our shelter in 2010 was up more than 30% from the previous year (2009).   

The report also found that on average, over 400 women across the country are turned away every day from shelters due to lack of space. 

A global shelter survey shows that in one day, 2,883 shelters from 24 countries helped 90,602 women and 63,315 children. On this same survey date, these shelters had to turn away 12,228 women and 8,176 children.

Nellie’s staff interviewed by She Does The City

Posted on: July 13th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

Jenna Pettinato, Nellie’s Development Associate was recently interviewed for the “Her Career” section of the online magazine She Does The City. 

When asked what the best thing about her job is, Jenna replied: “The thing I love most about fundraising is that I get to make people feel good. The best description I’ve heard of this work is that fundraisers connect people to their dreams. We are the medium between what people see as unjust and wrong in the world, and what they can do to contribute towards making things better. Giving has a very practical benefit (it helps us run our programs and services) and it also has a very deep emotional or spiritual benefit that helps people actualize their passion, commitments, and dreams.”

To read the entire article you can click here! 

 Happy Reading 🙂

Nellie’s Celebrates Pride 2011

Posted on: July 12th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

Staff, volunteers, and women from Nellie’s were happy to participate in Pride Week 2011!

The theme this year was Pride – Dream Big and the celebrations certainly lived up to that name. With over 1.2 million people in attendance, this year’s Toronto Pride was one of the largest celebrations in the world!

Nellie’s was proud to join in celebrating the history, courage, diversity, and exciting future of Toronto’s LGBTTIQQ2SA communities (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/Questioning, 2 Spirited, and Allies).

Over 50 of our supporters joined us at the Dyke March on Saturday and over 200 people visited our booth at the Community Fair over the weekend and helped us raise $181 to support our Summer Children’s Programs.

 Nellie’s was proud to participate in Pride 2011 in solidarity with all our LGBTTIQQ2SA staff, supporters, and clients as part of our commitment to achieve social justice for all women.  We look forward to Pride 2012!

Thank You Project Water and The Bargains Group!

Posted on: July 11th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

 Nellie’s is proud to be the recipient of this generous in-kind donation from Project Water, an initiative of The Bargains Group. 

Our mountain of water.

These bottles of water will be distributed to over 100 women each week through Nellie’s Outreach Programs as well as the children who attend our Summer Children’s Camp! 

We would like to thank everyone involved in Project Water for helping the women and kids at Nellie’s to stay cool this summer.

Welcome to Nellie’s Blog

Posted on: July 8th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

Welcome & thank you for visiting Nellie’s Blog!

This blog connects you to what’s happening at Nellie’s.  We will be posting information about our amazing supporters, highlighting upcoming events, keeping you informed about our latest social justice and advocacy initiatives, and providing you with program updates and insight into the lives of the amazing women and children at Nellie’s. 

As well, we will keep you informed on important issues that broadly affect the rights of all women and children here at home and around the world.

Since 1973, our supporters have helped us to rebuild the lives of over 15,000 women and children in our communities. They believe, as we do, that every woman and child has the right to live a life free from violence, poverty and homelessness. 

Thank you for visiting Nellie’s Blog. We look forward to your support and hearing from you on how we can work together to improve the lives of all women and children.   Welcome to our community!