CENTRE WELLINGTON – Centre Wellington Men Who Care has donated $2,914 to Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis to support its Rural Support Program.
The donation follows the group’s quarterly gathering on September 22, where members heard presentations from three local organizations before voting on which cause would receive the funds.
The Rural Support Program provides outreach, advocacy, safety planning and other support services for women experiencing domestic abuse in rural communities throughout Wellington County.
Jacinta Cassidy, program and services manager at Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, says women in rural areas can face additional challenges when seeking help.
“We are grateful to CW Men Who Care and its members for this generous contribution,” Cassidy said. “Women living in rural communities can face additional barriers when seeking safety and support, including transportation challenges, distance and isolation.”
She says the donation will help the organization continue providing accessible services to women and families across Wellington County.
CW Men Who Care introduced an updated giving model earlier this year, allowing members to make recurring quarterly donations while keeping the group’s member-directed approach to choosing recipients.
At each quarterly gathering, members hear from three local charities or community organizations before voting on where the money will go. Members can also contribute through an ongoing pledge without attending every meeting.
Curt Hammond, founder of CW Men Who Care, says the changes are helping make participation easier while increasing the group’s impact in the community.
“The heart of CW Men Who Care has always been bringing people together to support local causes in a meaningful way,” Hammond said. “What we’ve changed is making participation easier. Members can still come out, hear the presentations and cast their vote, but they can also support the community through an ongoing pledge even if they can’t attend every quarterly gathering. It’s helping us build momentum, grow membership and increase the impact we can have together.”
Since launching in 2020, the organization has supported a range of local charitable and community initiatives.
Men interested in joining or making a pledge can find more information at cwmenwhocare.ca.
