Spring events on the agenda
“Although time consuming, small efforts reduce food waste, and can save money.” Marie Kenny
The P.E.I. Women’s Institute’s provincial board is ready for the onset of spring with plans for annual events, including a global walk inclusive of tackling food insecurity, the WI Roadside Cleanup and the provincial WI meeting and convention.
The Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) hosts an annual Women Walk the World Day on April 29 to bring awareness and funds to vital global projects for rural women. The event connects women leaders across several continents by a joint walking activity in their own areas on the same date. Participants are encouraged to send photos to the WI office or post them on the P.E.I. Women’s Institute Facebook page. The PEIWI encourages all to walk individually or with branch members, neighbours or new friends on or around April 29. More information is at https://acww.org.uk.
As part of a resolution at the international level, Marie Kenny, Canada area president for the ACWW, has embarked on a year-long commitment to confront food waste to reduce food insecurity in Canada. As part of her mandate, she has initiated a “Take Ten: To Reduce, Re-use and Re-think Food
Waste” monthly tip campaign. April’s tip recommends organizing fridges with food going off date first. Keep a list of purchased food and make a note of all shelf life labels.
“Although time consuming, small efforts reduce food waste, and can save money,” says Kenny.
Lastly, base cooking decisions on the food needing to be used first. These monthly tips can be further viewed in WI newsletters and social media platforms.
In tackling another form of waste, this year’s WI Roadside Cleanup and cash contest is scheduled for May 11. Residents are invited to once again participate in the annual Roadside Clean up by picking up litter along Island roads. WI bags held over from previous years, clear bags from home or signature WI yellow bags from any IWMC facility, Access P.E.I. or any provincial library can be used. WI bags will be available in early May.
A random-based draw is slated for this year, and participants are again invited to take part for a chance to win cash prizes in May’s cleanup. Cash prizes will be drawn from emailed submission sent to wicontests@gmail.com.
In news for members, the P.E.I. Women’s Institute Provincial Convention is May 24 at the New London Community complex with a registration deadline of May 3. Guest speaker will be Jackie Irwin Paynter, the 2023 Woman in Agriculture award winner and owner of Blueshank Farms. For complete details, contact the WI office at 902368-4860 or view PEIWI’S webpage.
Lastly, watch for details in your communities for events from WI’S 68 branches across P.E.I.
This article is prepared by Ellen Macphail, executive director of the PEIWI, and appears in The Guardian on the second Friday of each month. For information on the P.E.I. Women’s Institute or to comment on this column, visit www.peiwi.ca, call 902368-4860 or email wi@gov.