YWCA Crossroads Shelter Receives $15,000 Grant From Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund

On Saturday, January 7th during the Peterborough Pete’s game—dedicated to mental health awareness—Bell Let’s Talk presented YWCA Peterborough Haliburton with a $15,000 grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund. The grant will support the "Saying Yes: Better Serving Abused Women with Mental Health Issues" program at YWCA Crossroads Shelter.

“YWCA is proud to receive a Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant to support the work YWCA Crossroads Shelter does every day to help more women with mental health and addiction issues," says Jen Cureton, YWCA Director of Philanthropy & Communications.

The $15,000 grant—along with a donation from The Peterborough Foundation and other private donors—will support ongoing staff training as they continue to work on “Saying Yes” to women with complex issues.
 
“Bell Let’s Talk is so pleased to support programs like ‘Saying Yes: Better Serving Abused Women with Mental Health Issues’ and the tremendous work being done by the YWCA Crossroads Shelter,” adds Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “This $15,000 grant to the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is one of more than 70 2016 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grants made to organizations helping people living with a mental illness in every region of the country.”
 
If you or someone you know needs help, call YWCA day or night at 1-800-461-7656

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Women's Business Network Donates $16,000 To YWCA Crossroads Shelter

The Women's Business Network Of Peterborough has donated $16,001.33 to the YWCA Crossroads Shelter to help local women and children who are victims of family violence receive healthy food, supplements and vitamins through the YWCA Crossroads Shelter’s Nutritional Well-Being program.

YWCA Executive Director Lynn Zimmer accepts cheque

YWCA Executive Director Lynn Zimmer accepts cheque

In addition to receiving healthy meals for themselves and their children, women benefiting from the Nutritional Well-Being program can learn about meal planning, food preparation and the principles of nutrition.

“For over 30 years, the Women’s Business Network has had a positive connection with the women and children who depend on Crossroads for safety and support," says Lynn Zimmer, Executive Director, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.

Zimmer adds: "When families arrive at Crossroads, mothers are often malnourished even if their children seem healthy, and, at times, are too tired or too stressed to eat well. Often, it’s been a choice between feeding her kids or feeding herself. At Crossroads, she can relax and take care of herself. Our kitchen counsellor not only prepares delicious home cooked meals that mothers can afford on a low income, but also teaches cooking classes showing them about the right foods to eat for their health. Food becomes a comfort again, instead of another source of anxiety."

Since partnering with the YWCA, the WBN has donated a total of $252,100 to the YWCA Crossroads Shelter.

By raising $16,000 this year, the WBN Holiday Gala and Auction Fundraiser will provide 1,388 days of food and well-being for local women and children who are leaving an abusive situation and staying at the Shelter.

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Fleming Student Joel Willett Using Twitter To Raise Money For Walk A Mile Peterborough

Fleming Student Joel Willett Using Twitter To Raise Money For Walk A Mile Peterborough

Powerful tweet. RT it!

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Dear Good Men Of Peterborough, You So Rock

Where are all the good men in Peterborough?

Like many other single women I know, I sometimes wonder if there are any good men out there. My girlfriends and I joke about it and come up with our own hypotheses for where these good men may be hiding.

When I dig a bit deeper, I realize that part of that cynicism comes from the horrible things that have been happening to women and communities in Afghanistan. But I also know that as a woman in Canada, I am still at risk for violence:

• Every week, at least one woman in Canada—and sometimes more—is murdered by a current or former partner.
• 39% of women report experiencing sexual assault sometime during their lives. 2/3 of all women victims of sexual assault are under 24.
• Violence against women costs Canada well over $4 billion each year in costs of social services, criminal justice, lost employment days and health care. The human costs are much higher.
• On any given day, over 3,000 women and 2,500 children are staying in an emergency shelter somewhere in Canada to escape domestic violence.*

My family and I are among the 14,000 women and children who have stayed at YWCA’s Crossroads Shelter since its inception in 1983.

This violence against generation after generation of women and girls has to stop.

It turns out, there is a long list of good men in Peterborough who agree—and a growing number of photos to prove it!

On Friday, May 31st, over 200 good men will slip into red high heels and walk tall against the prevalence of domestic abuse in our community. They will be supporting the YWCA’s work to provide women and their children with access to the safety and security of a women’s shelter and healing programs that provide longer-term support as they rebuild their lives.

I can’t think of anything sexier.

So if you’re in the market for good men, like the idea of seeing CEOs, bankers, firefighters, social workers, police officers and local celebrities in red high heels, you better block off your May 31st noon hour. Come and join me in cheering on these good men as they begin their walk in front of City Hall and back in bright red stilettos.

If you believe in what these men are doing and wish to encourage this kind of leadership, show your support by sponsoring a walker or a team.

If you’re a good man who has the courage to stand up, there is still time to sign up!

If you are a part of Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, please accept the sincere gratitude of at least one woman who found a healing turning point at the YWCA’s Crossroads Shelter.

Truly,

Maryam Monsef

PTBOCanada.com contributor Maryam Monsef

*Statistics via.

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Ruth Greig of Plan to Inspire thanks everyone for a lovely evening.Thursday night at The Junction, local business Plan to Inspire: Conference and Event Management presented "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".

This was a cocktail party for ladies only and had appetizers, dancing, a fashion show from local online apparel boutique TiaStar.com, and numerous wares from local businesses for women. Partial proceeds went to the YWCA Crossroads Shelter.


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A Video Tour of Peterborough's New YWCA Crossroads Shelter