Letters

Monthly Message: My Sister’s Place fundraises year-round to support women and children

July 25, 2025   ·   0 Comments

At My Sister’s Place, we work hard every year to fundraise money to help bridge the government funding gap – about 20 per cent of our basic budget for shelter (approximately $300,000 a year). These expenditures include shelter expenses, such as utilities, food and supplies for those staying at the shelter, our outreach programs and any other unexpected costs that may arise. Our other two tiers of affordable and supportive housing (seven units total) are not funded at all, so 100 per cent of the fundraised dollars are needed yearly to operate them.

During the year we have several annual fundraising events and campaigns that we plan, organize and run ourselves with the help of our staff members and our volunteers. 

In March, we host our annual Hats, Heels and High Tea event. Tickets for this fundraiser go on sale in January, and the event usually sells out. The afternoon consists of a luncheon of sandwiches and sweet treats, a variety of teas, live music, a raffle, door prizes, and prizes for best hat and fascinator. It’s a fun social afternoon with fancy dress and the best collection of hats around. 

Each Spring, our Trees for Shelter Campaign begins and runs through the summer into the fall. This program originated with a past board member, Doug, who cultivates and sells potted trees. Each year in May, our staff members and volunteers spend a day potting tree saplings to be sold in this program. With the expertise of current board member and farmer Dave, the saplings have grown into beautiful trees ready to be planted. We have four varieties of native trees available for $25 each: Red Maple, Cranberry Bushes, White Spruce and White Cedar. Plant with purpose – if you would like more information on the program or would like to purchase trees, call Dave at 705-458-9076. As well, for the first time this year, trees are also available at Murphy’s Farm Market located at 5141 County Road 10, Alliston.

November marks Women Abuse Prevention Month, and the official launch of the Annual Wrapped in Courage campaign organized by the Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses. As a part of this campaign and year-round, we sell Wrapped in Courage items (we have two women’s scarf styles, a men’s tie and beaded bracelets). The purple Wrapped in Courage items we sell are a symbol of the courage it takes for a woman to leave her abuser. Purple has long been the colour of the women’s movement, beginning with the suffragettes. It’s a symbol of pain and suffering but also of power, spirituality and transformation. During this time, we ask community members to wear purple, take a photo and send it to us. We run a social media campaign where we post photos of the community supporting this yearly project. When you wear purple, you show your support in ending violence against women. Wrapped in Courage items can be found on our website at www.mysistersplace.ca under the “Get Involved” section. 

Also, in November, we run our annual Fall Fling Online Auction. We always have an amazing variety of great prizes for bidding at all price points. There is something for everyone, and it’s a great way to get a jump on your Christmas shopping while supporting the women and children of South Simcoe County. 

Our last annual program of the year is our Sponsor a Family Christmas Campaign. Community members can choose a family from the list we create of families that need a little support during the holiday season and then help give that family a Happy Holiday. Each year, we support over 100 families with the kindness and generosity of those who have sponsored. 

We would like to thank all those who have attended our events in the past, bought trees and Wrapped in Courage items, bought or donated auction items or sponsored a family. Without your support, these events and campaigns cannot succeed, and our services offered would greatly suffer. If you would like more information on any of these events or campaigns, log onto our website or contact our fundraising coordinator at fundraiser@mysistersplace.ca.   

My Sister’s Place is a not-for-profit organization in Alliston that that provides residential and outreach services for women and their children fleeing domestic violence and abuse. The organization has been serving communities within South Simcoe since 1987. To learn more, go to: mysistersplace.ca

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