The 100-plus Women Who Care Oceanside will celebrate their organization's eighth birthday this spring, as well as surpassing $800,000 in donations to local charities.
The group now has more than 350 members and donates close to $100,000 in a year. The groups contributions currently tally $825,000, and will pass $850,000 with the next meeting in April.
“We just have such a wonderful community that are so caring and so giving,” said Debbe Patterson of 100 Women Oceanside.
When they started, in April 2017, Patterson was worried they would not be able to find 100 women to join — as it turned out, 130 showed up to the very first meeting, which saw a donation of $10,300 to Manna Homeless Society. Last October, Manna was successful again and this time received $35,000.
The members meet four times a year to nominate and vote on worthy charities. Each member writes a cheque to the charity for $100.
At their most recent meeting, earlier in January, 100 Women Oceanside donated $17,500 to both Catspan, an organization devoted to spaying, neutering, fostering and adopting feral and semi-feral cats, and ECHO Players, which is working on replacing the seating in the Village Theatre.
Over the years, 100 Women Oceanside have donated to numerous non-profit organizations that include: Oceanside Hospice, Nanoose Community Centre, Salvation Army, Arrowsmith Healthcare, Arrowsmith Search and Rescue, Adult Literacy, Wonderful World of Books, a breakfast program at Kwalikum Secondary School, North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, Forward House, Parksville Seniors, School District backpack program, Haven Society, Oceanside Stroke and Recovery, Compassion Dogs, SOS, KidSport, Oceanside Building and Learning Together, Wheels for Wellness and CFUW Scholarship Bursary Trust.
Their new goal is to reach 400 members, Patterson said.
One hundred per cent of the money goes to the organizations, she added, and none is used up for operating costs.
100 Women Oceanside will celebrate their birthday during the April meeting and will celebrate with cake and balloons. Also, 70 of the original 130 members are still active and they will be recognized that evening.
They are always accepting new members and information on signing up is available online at https://www.100womenoceanside.com/join.
