100+ Women put donation into winter warmth for kids

Winter warmth — coats, boots, mittens and hats — for local children will be the result of the latest gathering of 100+ Women Who Care Annapolis Valley, as Campaign for Kids was the chosen charity Dec. 5.

The women’s charitable group met for its quarterly event in Kentville’s Main Street Station. In keeping with the holiday season, the ladies of Valley Voices — with director Paul Grimm — presented a selection of favourite carols and classics, inviting attendees to sing along. 100+ Women members Kathy Whitewood, Stacy deVries and Angie Foster sponsored a light buffet of festive treats, and Maritime Express, venue sponsors with Safeguard Property Management; was right across the lobby serving up its sparkling ciders.

Campaign for Kids representative Claudette Sturk described life for many youth in Kings County. Based on the 2017 Nova Scotia Report on Poverty: 20.8 per cent of children in New Minas live in poverty, along with 20.6 per cent in Aylesford, 21.6 per cent in Wolfville and 28.2 per cent in Kentville.

Volunteers with Campaign for Kids host an annual golf tournament, Burger Wars and other smaller initiatives to “reach out in many ways to benefit children locally,” said Sturk.

Nineteen elementary and middle schools in Kings County receive an annual $800 principal’s fund, there are $2,000 graduation bursaries for every high school and Landmark East, and the group funds countless emergency needs for winter clothes and boots, educational supports and special programs, including those offered by Rowan’s Room.

“What we do is a drop in the bucket — and there is a need for more,” said Sturk, highlighting the group’s current $10,000 commitment now to provide schools with allowances for winter clothing.

Two other groups presented at the evening’s meeting. Rowan’s Room offers special needs youth focussed programs to help develop social and academic behaviours that will launch them successfully into traditional school and learning environments. Landmark East School in Wolfville provides students with learning differences specialized education, helping them “learn how to learn” according to individual needs. Both groups received $1,000 advertising support credits with K-Rock.

“There was no wrong choice this evening,” said 100+ MC Cate Smith. “All of these groups set the bar for caring for children in the Valley.”

The 100+ Women Who Care Annapolis Valley meet quarterly, with members pledging to give $100 donations to each event’s voted recipient. Non-profit groups are nominated by 100+ Women members for the opportunity to present.

The next meeting is 6 p.m. March 12 at Main Street Station, Kentville. Find out more at 100womenvalley.ca.

CONTRIBUTED The Annapolis Valley 100+ Women Who Care heard from three great community causes at its Dec. 5 meeting in Kentville. Group MC Cate Smith, right, is shown with representatives from the presenting groups, including, from left, back row, Landmark East School students Cadence Howe, Emma White, Connor Heffernan and Brayden Hennigar; and, across the front, Brittany Karsten and Doug Ralph, Rowan’s Room; Claudette Sturk and Tia Andrews, Campaign for Kids; and Karen Fougere, head of school, Landmark East. The 100+ Women chose Campaign for Kids for its quarterly donation.