Here at Nellie’s, we are forever grateful for the generosity of our donors near and far. We’ve had to learn a lot about how to safely operate during the pandemic and your unwavering support has helped make this difficult year a little less challenging.

Generous monetary donations, in-kind gifts, masks and other PPE dropped off for our women, their children and our staff, and even heart-warming notes of support, have all ensured that we have been able to continue meeting the needs of the women and their children living at Nellie’s as well as those who need the support of our community programs and services.

“So many organizations pivoted in how they fundraised for us. They were working remotely, or were even closed,” says Ingrid Graham, Director of Development at Nellie’s. “But they changed their fundraising models, and went online. And by doing so, they raised even more money. During times of adversity, our donors didn’t bail, they just shifted.”

Here are just a few that supported us this holiday season.

One Academy

After raising over $8,000 for Nellie’s in May with a virtual workout fundraiser, One Academy decided to do it again before the holiday rush. With an instructor running a class from their closed east-end gym, and hundreds of people joining online from all over the world, Academy One raised over $11,000 in support of Nellie’s.

King Ursa

One of the directors at this Toronto ad agency, along with his wife, were frequent volunteers at Peggy Capitain’s annual holiday dinner for Nellie’s at Ralph Thornton Community Centre. That party, filled with music, food, laughter and a visit from Santa had been held every year for a decade for families in Nellie’s community. Since COVID-19 restrictions across the country meant limits on social gatherings and therefore no holiday party, the owners of King Ursa created an online fundraising campaign in support of Nellie’s. By reaching out to their employees, they raised close to $4,000.

Girl Up Toronto

The Toronto chapter of the Girl Up campaign, which aims to empower girls and encourage advocacy, held a holiday drive to create essentials kits for the women and their children living at Nellie’s. A few days before Christmas, chapter members dropped off toiletries, hair care products, makeup, non-perishable food, and baby/child care items. “They have great ideas of philanthropy and they want to change the world. And they’re so enthusiastic about helping women and girls,” says Ingrid.

Finally, a quick shout out to Fox and Firkin and Realtor Miguel Madeira, who went the extra mile to do something special for both the women and their children living at Nellie’s and our incredible staff. Miguel brought over gourmet pizza one afternoon in December specifically to give our staff a boost. And, the Fox and Firkin offered free meals on three different days. Everyone got to order their own meal off the menu.

“It was a really nice treat for both our residents and our staff,” says Ingrid.

The women and children in our community count on us to be there for them when they need us and we thank every single community organization and corporation that helped us to do just that last year.

The holidays are traditionally a time for parties and gatherings with friends. For the families in Nellie’s community, our holiday dinner at Ralph Thornton Community Centre has always been a highlight of the season.

This annual tradition, filled with music, food, laughter, and a visit from Santa started a decade ago. At that first party, about 100 women and their children attended. Last year was the largest festive occasion yet, with over 200 families joining the party.

“People were waiting at the door, and we didn’t even have enough chairs we had so many people,” laughs Peggy Capitain, a Toronto mom and volunteer who started the Nellie’s holiday party tradition. “The smiles and joy I see at the holiday party just warms my heart.”

Almost as soon as the 2019 party ended, Peggy and her amazing group of volunteers and donors began strategizing how to reach even more families by throwing an even bigger party.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and with it, restriction across the country on social gatherings.

But that hasn’t deterred Peggy from wanting to give back to Nellie’s this holiday season. Instead of a large, festive community party, she began working with Nellie’s to plan a more intimate event for the women and their children living in the shelter over the holidays. She fundraised to provide a nice holiday meal for shelter residents and rallied her network to collect gifts (toys for kids and self-care packages for moms) as well as winter necessities, such as socks, hats, and gloves.

“The pandemic makes everything so much harder for Nellie’s. It was really important to me to continue the tradition, even if it’s in a different way,” says Peggy.

“I really put myself in [the women and their children’s] shoes,” says Peggy, explaining that while she has been fortunate to have never had to stay in a shelter, her parents came to Canada as immigrants and, over the years, family financial troubles meant that, as a teenager, she worked several jobs to help keep a roof over their heads. “I believe that everyone needs a lift sometimes. People can soar when they’re given the opportunity. For me, the driving force has always been my desire to lift someone else up.”

Peggy is hopeful that by next fall, she’ll be able to once again plan another Nellie’s community holiday party. “It’s a very special event and we want to do something again next year, even if we have to come up with an innovative way to do it.”

Thank you, Peggy for everything you do for the women and their children in Nellie’s community! For many women and children living in shelters, the loss of holiday celebrations in their homes re-enforces their sense of loss. We recognize that when forced with the possibility of losing the holiday family gathering, many women go back to their abuser, trying hard to recreate holiday memories for themselves and their children. This is one of the reasons fundraising efforts like Peggy’s are so important. It allows us to mount an amazing holiday celebration during these difficult times. Peggy’s fundraising drive means we will be able to provide women and their children with shared experiences, and it will serve to unite the residents over familiar celebrations.

 Have another fundraising idea? Contact fundraising@nellies.org. Or, to make a secure online donation, please donate here. Or, you can make an even bigger impact by becoming a monthly donor. As a regular monthly supporter, your generosity provides critical and consistent funding towards our daily efforts to help women and their children impacted by abuse, trauma and homelessness. Automatic monthly payments are easy to set up, convenient, and create a lasting impact on the lives of women and their children at Nellie’s.

Proof Bar’s heated igloos, InterContinental Toronto Yorkville

Enjoy all that a Canadian winter has to offer in Proof Bar’s heated outdoor igloos

 TORONTO, October 13th, 2020 –  In the Spirit of Community Support during this unprecedented time, Proof Bar, located in The InterContinental Toronto Yorkville’s is offering its heated outdoor Igloos, in partnership with Nellies, Shelter for Women and Children.    Proceeds of each Reservation will go directly to Nellies Shelter for Women and Children to allow further support in our community.

2020 has been a challenging one for Nellie’s, says Jyoti Singh, Executive Director of Nellie’s. In early April, eleven women living in our shelter tested positive for COVID-19.  With the increase cost of keeping women and their children safe due to enhanced infection controls, we are grateful to businesses like the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville for their support. The support we have received from organizations like the InterContinental has helped us maintain much need programs and services to during these difficult times.

“We have all been personally effected by COVID-19 and our heart reaches out to all the Women and Children in these vulnerable situations.  Nellie’s has been supporting our community since 1973 and we felt it was crucial to support them in our current environment,” says Simon Chapman, General Manager of the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville.

The Three Igloos have a dedicated lounge tasting menu, perfect for enjoying light bites and drinks under the stars.  Offering a private experience for two or four guests.  Your IGLOOsive Reservations can be booked now through February 29^th, 2020.

Guests looking to book their IGLOOsive experience can call 647-464-3310. The reservation line is open from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. daily and igloos are available from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week until February 29, 2021.     Due to the significant cleaning protocols in between reservations, we have allocated a time restrictions of 1 hour per reservation, with one hour of sanitization and rest in between each reservation.

For more information on the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville’s IGLOOsive experience, please visit toronto.intercontinental.com.

Despite pandemic restrictions, Children’s Program still a safe space for kids

Much like everything else at Nellie’s, we’ve made changes to how we run our Children’s Program in order to ensure our moms, kids, and staff stay safe.

Social distancing, masks when in the playroom, and temperature checks have become the norm for kids living at Nellie’s. But living in a shelter during a global pandemic adds an additional level of stress and anxiety for kids (and moms), and, what hasn’t changed at our Children’s Program, is the opportunity it gives kids to have a safe space to express their feeling and work through their emotions in an age-appropriate way.

“It’s difficult because many of the kids are nervous and fearful about COVID-19. They’re like sponges, the good information and the bad information all gets absorbed,” says Cordelia Fox, Children’s Program Worker. “We listen to the messages they’ve heard, fact check the information, and transform it into kid-appropriate messages.”

Since the program was first created in 2017, Cordelia has always planned the monthly themes as well as all of the weekly activities, and is committed to providing content and activities that are diverse, inclusive and reflective of the populations we work with. With many of the kids, staff often talk about appropriate and inappropriate expressions of emotion during the activities. Most of the kids have only ever experienced inappropriate (or unsafe) expressions of emotion. Nowadays, discussion topics often include managing change (both pre- and post-COVID experiences), managing emotions, and stress management strategies.

Every Friday afternoon, the program moves outside. In the summer, Nellie’s backyard was turned into a small garden for kids and moms to learn how-to nurture and tend to plants. Now that the weather is cooler, kids play ball, chalk on the pavement or skip rope. Cordelia hopes that even in the winter, they’ll be able to continue going outside to play.

“We have a really nice backyard, it’s small but it’s a nice space. Getting outside for programming gives everyone a chance to get some fresh air, and provides a bit of normalcy during these difficult times,” says Cordelia.

When inside the playroom, visual cues, such as tape marks on the floor and tables remind kids to physically distance. Similar to daycare centre protocols, temperatures are checked when they arrive and anyone over the age of 2 has to wear a mask. (As part of our COVID-19 response plan, reusable and disposable masks are provided to everyone living at Nellie’s.) Only a few toys remain in the playroom and when a child plays with one, it’s fully disinfected before being returned to the shelf. For crafts, we purchased extra supplies to give every child their own pencil case filled with crayons, markers, glue and scissors. This cuts down on the need for sharing.

Snacks, which have always been available for the kids during programming, are now individually packaged or prepared in advance and put in disposable bowls.

Before the pandemic, Cordelia often planned mother and child outings to local attractions, such as the AGO or the Aga Khan museum. Since those types of bonding experiences are no longer feasible, she plans other activities.

“Movie nights give moms the opportunity to bond with their children, and forget about the pandemic for a few hours.”

Want to help us support children living at Nellie’s? Make a secure online donation at nellies.org. Or, you can make an even bigger impact by becoming a monthly donor. As a regular monthly supporter, your generosity provides critical and consistent funding towards our daily efforts to help women and their children impacted by abuse, trauma and homelessness. Automatic monthly payments are easy to set up, convenient, and create a lasting impact on the lives of women and their children at Nellie’s.

When Jesse Bruce, a trainer at Toronto gym One Academy, heard that rates of domestic abuse against women could rise during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the increased isolation people are facing, he knew he needed to find a way to help his community. “We wanted to show our support, and we wanted people to know we cared about them, and that we were thinking about them at this time,” says Jesse. “We also wanted to bring our community together and provide some comfort and hope and strength to everyone.”

Coming from a difficult background himself, Jesse says that he really resonated with the  women who come to Nellie’s, and all women impacted by abuse, trauma and homelessness, because “I’ve been in that same spot of not knowing where to go, and being in a dark place. “I’ve struggled with my own past and battled my own demons, and I’m 9 years sober this August,” says Jesse. “Fitness became part of my life and it changed my life.”

To combine his passion for fitness and his drive to help the women of Nellie’s, Jesse organized a virtual online workout class, where everyone who participated had to donate a minimum of $5 to join. Jesse went into the gym by himself on a Saturday in May to teach the class, and much to his amazement, hundreds of people joined from all over the world, including from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, and all over Canada. Many were friends of the gym’s members. Overall, the event raised a total of more than $8,000.

The class was One Academy’s signature class called Everest: at the gym they say that if you can conquer that class, you can conquer Everest. Jesse decided to hold the event in May in honour of Mother’s Day, as an added connection to Nellie’s.

As a way to kickstart sign-ups for the class and raise further awareness for Nellie’s, Jesse also ran an additional fundraiser: he pledged to run and bike 1km up to an IronMan distance (180 km bike and 42.2km run) for every person who signed up. His initiative worked, and enough people signed up that he ended up doing the entire run and bike! He first completed the biking portion on his indoor trainer in his living room, and then he went outside to run the full marathon distance. The entire workout took him a little more than 8 hours, and he raised over $1,500 just on that one day.

Jesse is so proud of his One Academy family and how they joined him in coming out to support Nellie’s. “Giving back is something we do, we do it together and I think everyone can empathize with Nellie’s and the women and children that are there,” says Jesse. “I think it hits home for a lot of people. It was already a dark and scary time and I can only imagine what some of the women had to deal with.”

 Thank you, Jesse and everyone at One Academy! Your generosity and passion means so much to the women and their children who come to Nellie’s.

Meet Joanna: a counsellor who gives so much to the women at Nellie’s

As a counsellor at Nellie’s, Joanna Shawana spends much of her time providing emotional support to the women living in our shelter. They’ve experienced traumas and every one of our counsellors help create positive spaces through one-on-one support, programs, and workshops that offer therapeutic healing and personal growth.

Joanna’s job is to listen, to provide guidance and support, and to help every woman with her personal healing journey. Sometimes when a woman shares their story with her, she feels compelled to share one of her poems from her book, Voice of an Eagle, that was published in 2006. When she recites them, it helps her express that she understands what they’re saying to her and that they’re not alone.

“I share a bit of me with them just to let them know that I have been there and I understand. Working as a counsellor needs a lot of compassion and understanding,” says Joanna.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Joanna also ran regular healing through art workshops. As an Aboriginal jewellery maker herself, she teaches the women living in our shelter to make jewellery, dream catchers, and more.

“Art brings you peace and it takes your other worries out of your mind,” says Joanna, whose native name is Niimkii-Giizhikgad-Kwe, which means Thunderday Woman. “When you’re focused on making a bracelet, you’re not focused on your problems. It gives your brain a break from the worries and provides a bit of stress relief. Also, it’s a way for me to teach the women that if they can sell the jewellery, they can make a little extra money when they’re on a tight budget.”

Helping Nellie’s celebrate National Indigenous History Month

Every June, Joanna also usually takes the lead to help Nellie’s celebrate National Indigenous History Month. She posts notices for events, celebrations, and traditional Powwows around the city, and takes over the Nellie’s kitchen for one evening to prepare a complete traditional Aboriginal meal for the women and their children living at Nellie’s. The first time she took on this project, her mother even visited the shelter to help out in the kitchen.

“I’ve made corn soup, and I’ve made tacos, and berry salads. It always a very traditional meal,” says Joanna.

Many years, she also helps celebrate Aboriginal culture by hosting a beading and drumming workshop for the women and their children. During it, she teaches about the importance of her drum, medicines, and how they’re used. Even though she says she’s quite shy, sometimes the group encourages her to sing a traditional song.

With physical and social distancing keeping us all apart like never before, National Indigenous History Month celebrations in our shelter are much more muted this year. But we still honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada and continue to recognize the strength of present-day Indigenous communities.

Thank you, Joanna for all you do for the women and their children living at Nellie’s. Once we’re able to resume regular programming, we’re looking forward to resuming Joanna’s healing through art workshops. If you would like to donate beads, stones, gems or other jewellery making supplies or tools, please contact us at community@nellies.org.

STUDENT PLACEMENT POSITIONS

Nellie’s operates a 40 bed shelter for women and children who are homeless and leaving violence and provides community support for women living in the community. Nellie’s is a community based feminist women’s organization committed to social justice and anti-oppression. Currently we are looking for 6 Non-Paid Student Placement positions.

• Two (2) Student Shelter Workers, Works between Monday -Saturday
• One (1) Student Community Support & Outreach Worker–Works on Wednesday-Friday
• Three (3) Student Housing Support Workers – Works between Monday-Saturday

Qualifications:

2^nd Year Students in Social Work Studies, Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Program and other relevant studies that require a practicum for 400-600 hours.

Placement Period:  September 2020 – April 2021

Nellie’s is committed to the development of an agency that reflects the women it serves. This position is open to all women*. Woman* signifies anyone who self-identifies as female, femme and/or woman. This includes transwomen, cisgender women, non-binary people who identify as femme or female presenting. Applications from equity seeking groups are strongly encouraged. We regret that our shelter location is not physically accessible.

 Faxes or phone calls will not be accepted. Please email your resume and cover letter with specific position you’re applying & available placement hours to gbemi@nellies.org.

 These positions require a criminal reference check as per Ministry requirements.  Criminal Check Record needs to be available for your placement.

 Date of Posting:     Wednesday April 8, 2020

Deadline:                  Monday June 15, 2020

We are sorry that only those candidates who will be interviewed will be contacted.

About Nellie’s
Nellie’s operates a 36 bed emergency shelter for women and children who are seeking shelter and / or leaving violence.  Nellie’s also operates a community support and outreach program for low income and socially isolated women and children in the community.

Nellie’s is seeking members to join our Board of Directors whose experiences align with Nellie’s Mission:

 Our Mission is to operate programs and services for women and children who have and are experiencing oppressions such as violence, poverty and homelessness. Nellie’s is a community-based feminist organization which operates within an anti-racist, anti-oppression framework. We are committed to social change through education and advocacy, to achieve social justice for all women and children.

About the Board of Directors
Nellie’s Board of Directors provides strategic leadership for Nellie’s in accordance to the organisation’s Vision, Mission, and Values. The board consists of 10 directors.

Currently we have one (1) vacancy on the Board of Directors.

Although individual Board members do not represent any particular constituency of Toronto, our aim is to have our Board membership reflect the city’s population and the clients we serve. Therefore, when recruiting applicants to our Board positions, the Board Membership & Development Committee will consider the following:

• Individuals who bring a perspective that encompasses the general experience of visible minority groups in Toronto.
• Individuals from diverse ethnic identities and cultural traditions and backgrounds.
• Individuals who understand from their personal experience, work and/or volunteer activities, issues important to vulnerable or marginalized community members (e.g. disability, sexual orientation, low income, homelessness youth, seniors.

This is consistent with Nellie’s commitment to the development of an agency that reflects the women it serves.

Currently Nellie’s is looking for women with a commitment to and experience in the following areas:

• Strong Board policy governance experience
• Working from an Anti-Racist/Anti-oppression Framework
• Feminist pedagogy and practice
• Community based skills, including service delivery and / or as a service user
• Human Resources
• Fundraising
• Finance
• Risk Management

Responsibilities of Successful Applicants:

• Prepare for and attend monthly Board Meetings (2.5 hours per month + prep time) and the AGM in September
• Join one Board Committee (meetings usually once per month, 2.5 hours per month + prep time)
• Participate in the annual Board Retreat in November (10 hours approx.)
• Participate in the ongoing development and implementation of a long term vision and strategic plan for Nellie’s.

Successful applicants to the Nellie’s Board of Directors will be making a commitment to a two-year term, with possibility of extension to a maximum of three two-year terms.

TO APPLY:
This position is open to all women*. Woman* signifies all people who self-identify as female, femme and/or woman. This includes trans women, cisgender women, non binary people who identify as femme or female presenting.

Please submit a cover letter outlining your interest to serve on the Board and how your experiences align with Nellie’s mission. Please also include a resume (if applicable).  Correspondence can be sent by email to:

Janna Cheng-Brown
janna@nellies.org

Deadline for applications: April 30, 2020.

All interested persons are invited to and are encouraged to attend a Board information session scheduled in June. This will be an informal opportunity for you to meet with current Board members and talk with them about their experience on Nellie’s Board as well as learn more about Nellie’s.

On behalf of Nellie’s Board of Directors, along with the Management team and staff of Nellie’s, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Jyoti Singh as the Executive Director of our organization as of March 5, 2020.   Jyoti joins us as Margarita Mendez retires from the role as our Executive Director in which she has provided leadership, guidance and compassion to Nellie’s and our community since 2006.

Jyoti comes to us with a background full of demonstrated commitment to assisting women experiencing homelessness, violence and a myriad of other challenges and oppressions both in Toronto and in cities across our country from Ottawa to Winnipeg.   She has over 12 years of experience providing leadership in community-based programming and policy administration with a focus on working with disadvantaged populations.    We are excited by her dedication and commitment to assisting women and by her work in the not for profit sector.   Jyoti holds degrees including a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Carleton University.

Jyoti also brings with her the valuable experience she gained as the Executive Director of The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba and in managerial roles with End Homelessness Winnipeg and Women’s Residence in Toronto. She has been a Community Developer with Centretown Community Health in Ottawa and with Flemingdon Health Centre here in Toronto. She has held positions with the Red Cross across the country, including work as a Recovery Supervisor and she has been a Policy Program Officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa.

Please join us in welcoming Jyoti Singh into this role as our new Executive Director.

We look forward to working with Jyoti in the years ahead and to the continuation of all of the amazing work that Nellie’s is doing for the women and children we assist and for the community as a whole.

Nellie’s first Coldest Night of the Year winter walk was so much more than just about raising money for the women and their children who come to our shelter. It was about community.

“It was one big community love-in,” says Wendy Bray, Senior Development Officer at Nellie’s who organized Nellie’s Coldest Night of the Year walk. “What our community accomplished in this event is transformational for Nellie’s. Our community has taken an important message to the streets.”

On February 22, 2020 as the sun set on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, almost 100 people and over 45 volunteers walked 2, 5 or 10 km or donated their time to raise money for Nellie’s programs and services. Together they raised over $52,000 — surpassing our fundraising goal by 211%! The money raised will support our W.E.A.V. program (Women Experiencing Abuse and Violence), which strives to reach the most marginalized women in our community. This program addresses their unique experiences of trauma, substance use, and mental health issues as they work to rebuild their lives.

“I feel a 10 kilometre walk is nothing compared to what some people have to endure year-round on the streets,” said one walker as he walked with his partner along the route. “I am very happy to help raise awareness for a very good cause. I am new to the East Danforth area and found out about Nellie’s through the Coldest Night of the Year. I want to help a local shelter, and I like the programs that Nellie’s has set up.”

Walkers, both adults and children, and even little ones in strollers, started walking from Ralph Thornton Community Centre on Queen Street East at 5:15 p.m. Walking through our Riverside and Riverdale neighbourhoods, there was laughter, smiles and time to make new friends. Every one of our walkers were ambassadors of positive change, helping to bring awareness to our community of the many women and their children who are fleeing violence at home and struggling to find safe shelter and housing, and who are sometimes forced to choose between paying rent or buying food.

The walk ended back at Ralph Thornton where our tireless walkers were served bowls of hot chili, made fresh in Nellie’s kitchen, and relaxed to the easy vibe music from local band, Miss Grundy.

“Words simply do not express how thankful we are,” says Wendy. “Our hearts are brimming with gratitude for all you have done to make Coldest Night of the Year a huge success. You are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of women and their children who access the services and programs at Nellie’s.”

A great big final thank you to our 20 team captains, 7 sponsors, and 9 goods and services sponsors. We leave the final thoughts of the event, however to what one of our walkers said to Wendy when she ran into her again on Sunday morning …

“I can’t wait to walk again next year!”