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Archive for August, 2011

Coming Soon: Nellie’s Holiday Auction!

Posted on: August 30th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

We know it’s only August and you probably don’t want to start thinking about the holidays yet, but we’re so excited about what’s coming up that we wanted to share it with you!

This November we are launching Nellie’s 2011 Holiday Auction.  The auction will take place completely online at Nellie’s Marketplace, a new website currently in development.  We will be offereing a wide-range of donated good and services incluing vacations, spa packages, dinners, and gift certificates that can be purchased as gifts for loved-ones and friends.

So far we’re proud to announce that we’ve recevied support from many businesses in our community including Brooks Brothers, Lit Espresso Bar, Desmond & Beatrice Cupcakes, Hardware Interiors, and more!

We anticipate to raise $5000 from this holiday auction that will go directly to fund our programs and services for the hundreds of women who come to Nellie’s for shelter and support every year.

To find out more about our holiday auction or to donate a gift, you can click here or call 416-461-0769.

*Meet Team Nellie’s: Mary Byberg*

Posted on: August 29th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

Meet Mary Byberg, Nellie’s Superstar! She is the current Chair of Nellie’s Fund Development Committee, a former Board Member, and a 2011 winner of Harlequin’s ‘More Than Words’ contest.  A book based on her life will be published by Harlequin next year.

Is this your first race?

No, I ran a 5km race in 1998!  And I walked for Nellie’s several years ago.

Why are you running for Nellie’s?

Nellie’s is an organization with a mission, vision, and people I believe in.  Nellie’s mission is to operate programs and services for women and children who have experienced homelessness, violence, and other oppressions.  Their vision is for a more just world for women and children, and the people are Nellie’s are among the most inspiring, hard working, and dedicated people I’ve ever met.

How long have you been running for?

Not long.  I was a runner years ago, go out of it, and am now trying to get back in to it.

Where is your favourite place to run?

I love the water so I walk and run on a path that runs along Lake Ontario by my house.

What message do you have for the women and children at Nellie’s?

Have courage.  Together we are going to make it better for all of us.

What is you power song?

Well in the heyday of my running I used to listen to Alanis Morrisette’s “You Oughta Know.”  I would probably have a different song now…my life has much less drama.  I love all music so it just has to be something I love listening to that keeps me motivated.

Join Mary this October at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Call 416-461-0769 or e-mail info@nellies.org for details!   If you can’t join us, you can sponsor our team by clicking here. 

The capacity for hope

Posted on: August 26th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

“The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life.  It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started.”   -Norman Cousins, American journalist –

Members of The Miracle Movement at “Lighters”, a gala fundraising event held for Nellie’s last week.  Stay tuned for a full review of this event soon.

Women enjoy Supper Drop-In at Nellie’s

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

Every Wednesday night Nellie’s Community Support & Outreach space fills with the smell of delicious food, music, and laughter as women meet to enjoy a home-cooked meal at our Supper Drop-In Program.  Open to women and children in our community who are homeless or living in poverty, this weekly program provides women an opportunity to enjoy good food and good company!

Dinner is prepared each week by our staff and volunteers from fresh ingredients.  Volunteers at our Supper Drop In assist with preparing the  meal, setting up the space, serving food, and clean-up afterwards.

When the women arrive they are served dinner, which always includes fresh food prepared that day.  With the rising cost of food, many of our clients cannot afford to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, so it is important that we provide them.  We also serve a culturally diverse population, so each week we create a menu that includes different types of foods and flavours.

Our Supper Drop-In Program is so popular that we have two sittings in order to accomodate everyone; average weekly attendance at this program is 40 women.  Yesterday we asked the women at the Supper Drop-In why they liked the program.  This is what they had to say:

“It is a very welcoming environment and the volunteers are very kind.”

“The program gets better every week and the food is always healthy and tasty.”

“The quality and service of the food is excellent!  I can’t wait to come back next week.”

Nellie’s Supper Drop-In Program provides women and children in our community a space to meet, socialize, and enjoy good food.  We know the women look forward to this program each week and we do too!

Summertime at Nellie’s

Posted on: August 23rd, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

Wow!  We can’t believe that it’s the end of August already.   Soon September will be upon us and the children at Nellie’s will be getting ready to head back to school. 

Although the summer went by way too fast (as it always does), we had a wonderful time here at Nellie’s enjoying the warm weather, good company, and events around the city!   Here are a few of our favourite memories from this summer made possible by our awesome volunteers, donors, supporters, and community members! 

The women and children at Nellie’s outreach office enjoying chocolate cupcakes from our lovely neighbours at Desmond & Beatrice.

Staff representing Nellie’s at a community Fundrasier and BBQ for Pride at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre.

The children from our summer camp enjoying a potato sack race in Jimmy Simpson Park!

Staff participating in a workshop on Landlord & Tenant Rights hosted by East Toronto Community Legal Services.

 Making art with student volunteers from OCAD University.

In memory of Jack Layton

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

The Hon. Dr. John (Jack) Layton
(1950-2011)

 Today, Canada lost one of its proudest sons. Jack Layton died peacefully at home with his family by his side. In his passing, Nellie’s grieves the loss of our beloved representative in Federal Parliament and one of our most ardent supporters and friend. 

It was less than a year ago, that we met with Jack at his office to discuss Nellie’s plans for a new shelter. He graciously provided us sage counsel as well as his support.

From the beginning of his career,  Jack championed the rights of those most marginalized in our communities, including women and their children fleeing violence, poverty and homelessness.

 After 14 women were killed at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal by an anti-feminist on December 6th, 1989,  Jack became an instrumental leader of the White Ribbon Campaign  –  a campaign to mobilize men to end violence against women.

 Jack’s book, Homelessness: The Making and Unmaking of a Crisis outlined his views on the impact of poverty and homelessness. In 2008, he stood in parliament and spoke eloquently on the issues of women and poverty.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH4JTv87MEs

Our thoughts are with Jack’s wife Olivia, and his children, Sarah and Michael during this difficult time. Jack will be missed.

Margarita Mendez, Executive Director                                                                       

Aug 22, 2011

Another world is on her way

Posted on: August 19th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way.  On a quiet day I can hear her breathing.”    -Arundhati Roy-

(Nellie’s current Board of Directors: Alanna Courtright, Sienna Leung, Kathy Rampersad, Zahra Mohamed, Carol Allain [back row], Marcia Beck, Fran Odette [front row]. )

Fundraising Concert at The Horseshoe Friday Night!

Posted on: August 18th, 2011 by Nellie's No Comments

On Friday August 19th (tomorrow!) White Girl Records is hosting a benefit  concert for Nellie’s at The Horseshoe.

The concert will feature a group of Toronto bands paying tribute to early alternative band The Replacements.

Admission to the concert is $10 and doors open at 9:00pm.  The Horseshoe is located at 370 Queen Street West.   You can find out more information about the event  here.

We hope you’ll come out friday night to enjoy some great music in support of the women and children at Nellie’s!

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Bike Sharing Program a great success!

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

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in Nellie’s Bike Sharing Program.  In just over a month YOU have helped us create a brand new program that is helping women and children at Nellie’s get around the city!

In total we received 24 women’s bikes and 7 children’s bikes.  In addition, we also received locks, lights, and helmets to keep our riders safe.

We are so pleased to be able to share this feedback from the women at the shelter:

“In all my life I have never had a bike.  I’m 45 now and I finally have one.  This program has changed my life!“

“I feel so proud to have a bike that’s all mine!“

“I can put my things in the basket and then I go.  To work, to shopping…it’s good!“

From shopping and appointments, to work and outings, the women and children at Nellie’s are enjoying the benefits of increased physical activity, connecting with community supports, and also having a lot of fun!

Thanks to our kind and generous supporters, we now have all the bikes we need.  If you are a community organization in need of bikes this summer, please contact info@nellies.org and we would be more than happy to share the love and direct any additional bike donors your way.

The things we believe in

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

“There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.”         -Freya Stark-

(our youngest donor Elena raised $121 for the children at Nellie’s with her Loonie for a Lemonade Stand.)