At the second meeting of the non-profit organization 100 Women Who Care Mid-Island, members voted to donate $11,700 to Nanaimo Community Hospice Society, a charity that provides a variety of support to the dying, their families and friends.
“We were absolutely delighted to learn 100 Women chose our charity to receive this amazing donation,” said Karyn French, executive director of Hospice, in a press release.
Hospice offers free programs, resources and education to everyone struggling with the challenges of dying, caregiving and grieving.
“Demand for our services is growing,” French said. “Fundraising is ongoing, since only four per cent of our budget comes from government and a donation of this magnitude will allow us to respond to the growing need for our services.”
100 Women Who Care Mid-Island is a not-for-profit organization that makes a quarterly donation to a registered charity in Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo or Gabriola Island. Members make a one-year commitment to the organization, agree to attend four one-hour meetings and write four $100 cheques. Members nominate charities and at quarterly meetings, three charity names are drawn from a basket.
Nominating members make presentations about their charity of choice and members vote, by secret ballot, for one of the three charities.
Before leaving their meetings, all members write a $100 cheque to the charity that received the most votes.
“We are pleased to be making a donation to Nanaimo Community Hospice Society,” said Leanne Kelly, chairwoman of 100 Women Who Care. “At our second meeting, we learned so much about their organization. In addition to providing expert and gentle care to people in the final stage of life, they provide a support for families and friends.”
The next 100 Women Who Care meeting is Dec. 14. For more information about becoming a member, please visit http://100womenmidisland.weebly.com/.