Last night the Canadian Women’s Club hosted its annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Canadian High Commission’s residence. It was an evening of delicious, traditional food (turkey, stuffing, potatoes, etc) and good company. The turnout was strong, including many members of the CWC, Cuso volunteers and of course, the gracious High Commissioner to Jamaica Robert Ready and his wife Joanne.

The Canadian Women’s Club is a service club I am involved with as secretary. Please read below a press release highlighting its recent accomplishments, which were steered by Outreach Committee chair Erin MacLeod. The CWC does some good work in Jamaica!

KINGSTON, JA- Despite its low profile, over more than half a century, the Canadian Women’s Club, through its philanthropic work, has helped thousands of under-served Jamaicans and has dispersed millions of dollars generated through its fund-raising activities. The CWC’s scale of activities serves as an example that philanthropy need not be on a grand scale to make a real difference in the community.

In 2011-12 alone, the CWC donated a tent to the National Council for Senior Citizens, held a treat for children in the Bustamante Children’s Hospital and donated a computer to Jamaicans for Justice.

“We have operated in Jamaica for more than 50 years, and every year, we exceed our expectations in terms of how we are able to raise money and give back to the community,” says CWC president Dr. Barbara Matalon.

“The Canadian Women’s Club is a group of dedicated, strong women who are committed, through incremental acts, to make Jamaica a better nation and to help thouse who are in need of some care and assistance.”

The Canadian Women’s Club meets monthly at the Canadian High Commission and consists of women both with ties to Canada and those who are interested in philanthropic work. Perhaps its most notable activities are a charitable Bazaar and the Annual Spring Fling Fashion Show, which this year was held at the residence of the Canadian High Commissioner and was organized by former Miss Jamaica and CWC member Joan McDonald. This event raised more than $140,000* alone.

The Canadian Women’s Club of Jamaica is a non-profit organization that has been active for over 50 years. It was granted a tax-free status as a charitable organization in 1986. The CWC was established to acquaint Canadian women new to Jamaica with the local culture, to hold monthly meetings with interesting guest speakers, and have different types of social events such as visits to places of interest and dinners; and to assist welfare projects in Jamaica

For more information and to schedule an interview, please contact Kate Chappell at 452-1900 and please see below for a complete list of the CWC’s notable achievements.

RECENT CWC BENEFICIARIES
2011-2012

• In observance of International Women’s Day, we distributed about 150+ gift packages containing personal care items to adolescent girls at the Maxfield Park Children’s Home and at the Wortley Home, to the ladies at the Centre for Women in Crises, and the Verley Home forRetired Women.
• Verley Home: We held an afternoon Tea Party and Bingo for the ladies.
• National Children’s Home: We donated a dozen each fitted and flat sheets and pillow cases sewn by our member, Beth Hyde McDonald, from a donation of sheets from the Wyndham Hotels.
• National Council for Senior Citizens: We donated a 20’x12′ tent which is used as an outdoor shelter for seniors.
• The Trench Town Reading Center: With help from the Sangster Book Store, we donated books, stationery, art supplies and reading materials, and from the Gleaner Company, 2 large rolls of newsprint. We also donated garden hoses, fans and a large outdoors garbage container, suitably cemented into place by Montcrieffe Patio Shop.
• Christmas Party for children at the Burn Centre at the Bustamente Children’s Hospital: The party included a magician, a balloon artist, ice cream and fruit drink (courtesy of WYSINCO), cake (courtesy of Sugar and Spice), and a “goodies” bag (extra small gifts and sweeties packed by the ladies of CWC). Although we had planned for 45 children, it turned out that many more children, their parents and care-takers also attended. Subsequently, the goodies bags were given to the matron to give to their patients in the wards after the crowd dispersed.
• The Child Resiliency Programme in Papine: We donated and presented books as prizes for 10 “Outstanding Graduating Students.”
• Jamaicans For Justice: We donated a desktop computer.
• Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Center, & the Downtown Outreach Programme of the Kingston Parish Church: We donated items of clothing for men, women and children.
• Wortley Home: We donated items of clothing for the young girls living there.
• St. Patrick’s Foundation: We donated printer ink cartridges (for a printer that we had donated to them last year). We also held a special “cook-out” and swimming party for young Canadian volunteer students working at the St. Partick’s Foundation during their Spring Break.
• JSPCA: We donated a power-wash machine to clean the kennels.
• Women in Crises: We donated a refrigerator (in honour of His Excellency, Mr.Stephen Hallihan and his wife, Cathy, for all the support they had extended to the CWC during their tenure in Jamaica)

2012-2013

• Children First: We donated 31 shirts for trainees in their summer programme:
• John Bosco Boys’ Home: We donated 160 cups and 160 bowls that Sisyer said was needed for their boys
• August Town Association of Basic Schools: We donated a laptop computer
• CVSS Summer Games: We arranged for the provision of busses for transportation of disabled youth.
• The Trench Town Reading Center: We donated one 6 foot table, one 3 foot table, and 2 whiteboards on easels
• Reach Women’s Club Forum: We arranged for the provision of refreshments for their forum on “Motherhood is more than giving birth.”
• Jamaican Diaspora Insttute: We arranged for admittance for selected youth from the inner city of Kngston to attend the conference in Montego Bay
• Alpha Boys School: We donated four new monitors for their computer lab; long outdoors extension cord and an electrical receptical box for their band
• Sistren Collective Theatre: We donated a computer, printer, ink and paper
• RISE Life Management: We donated three sturdy 6 foot tables to support their programmes
• Independent Actors Movement: We donated fabric for costumes for a youth theatre production
• Jamaican Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: We donated two carrying cases, cat food and three new cages for their animals. Ongoing donations of newspaper
• Woman’s Inc: We donated 50 care packages for their Crises Centre
• Youth Opportunities Unlimited: We arranged for a dinner for visiting social work students from Western Carolina University