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December 18, 2021 6:30 a.m.
Christmas will be a little brighter for the women and youth of Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton thanks to two recent donations.
The St. Clair units of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) recently donated $ 17,500 in Christmas gifts to the Chatham-Kent Women’s Center and the Women’s Interval Home in Sarnia Lambton.
“The gifts given by our local Catholic teachers and education workers will bring joy and happiness to those in need,†said Alicia Blair, Youth and Children’s Programs Advisor at Chatham-Kent Women’s Center.
The members, who are Catholic teachers and education workers with the St. Clair District Catholic School Board, raised money by participating in a week-long fundraiser.
“Our teachers support families in need at Christmas every year, but this year we’ve heard a lot more stories about additional needs, possibly due to pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic,†said Wayne Bechard, president of OECTA St. Clair Elementary. Unity. â€We contacted our local women’s shelters, and it was a perfect choice.
On the last day of the fundraiser, everyone was encouraged to wear purple to support the shelters’ Shine a Light on Woman Abuse campaign.
“At first we were hoping to raise a few thousand dollars from our own teacher-members, but the kindness and generosity started to snowball and take off and we got support from all employee groups at all. the levels – for example, our caretakers, education assistants, librarians, social workers and administrators – they were all there, â€said co-organizer Chad Coene, chair of the High School Teachers Unit. “It was a great team effort, and we were overwhelmed by the total that was raised. It was way beyond what we expected.
In a separate fundraiser, 100 women who care about Chatham-Kent donated $ 12,025 to the Blenheim Youth Center.
Their next meeting is in February 2022 and will be held online. New members are welcome and you can find more information in click here.
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