The 100+ Women Who Care Salt Spring Island held its sixth meeting on November 18th on Zoom. Members voted to give the collected donations of the meeting—which totalled about $16,100—to Greenwoods Eldercare Society. Also drawn from the charity basket during that meeting were the nominated charities were Gulf Islands Families Together Society (GIFTS) and the Salt Spring Island Branch of the BC SPCA.

Three members gave informative and inspiring presentations over Zoom about why their nominated charity should receive the collected donations. Dorrie Ferster, who presented the winning pitch for Greenwoods, said, “It was a new experience to join the 100+ Women Who Care on a virtual call format. I must admit, I missed the energy of everyone’s presence.”

Members cast a secret online vote for one of the three, and for the first time ever, there was a tie vote. Members were asked to cast their votes again, this time for the two tied charities. Greenwoods was the winning charity.

In her presentation, Ferster spoke about Greenwoods’s hiring needs and challenges, related to but not solely because of COVID-19. When asked about her presentation’s success, she said, “I am honoured on behalf of Greenwoods to have had the opportunity to present the importance of our caring services. The selection of Greenwoods’s proposed and greatly needed Health Care Assistant (HCA) education fund will assure a minimum of three program training seats for identified islanders. Qualified Health Care Assistants provide care services that make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults.”

She added, “I look forward to sharing the planning and progress update in February [with the 100+ Women Who Care]. Thank you all for your contribution to the ‘work of Greenwoods Eldercare Society.’”

Aletha Humphreys, Executive Director of Greenwoods, said, “We are very grateful for the 100+ Women Who Care’s support of our HCA education fund. HCAs are at the heart of the care we provide at Greenwoods, and an on-island program is the best way to secure the staff we need to serve our Residents. The current support service team members who have expressed interest in becoming HCAs are all amazing women, and I think it is so fitting to have the winning funds go towards empowering and supporting these individuals while also contributing so much to Greenwoods. Thank you.”

Since its inaugural meeting in November 2018, 100+ Women Who Care Salt Spring has raised just over $100,000 total to benefit the community in various ways. The meetings were being held at ArtSpring prior to the pandemic, but the next two meetings are planned to by on Zoom. With around 150 members at this time, the group can raise over $15,000 in less than an hour. Recipient charities are able to use 100% of these funds in ways that they need most, as long as the charity’s efforts directly benefit the community.

The concept is simple: 100+ women, one hour, $100 donation, equals $10,000 or more. Members nominate registered charities with a direct local impact, three of which are randomly drawn at each meeting. The members who nominated each of these charities provides a 5-minute presentation to encourage members to vote for this charity. After the presentations, each member casts a secret ballot for her choice. The charity receiving the most votes is awarded all funds raised that evening.

The next meeting date is February 24, 2021, at 7pm over Zoom. Nominations are now open for the next meeting but end 4 weeks prior the next meeting. New members are always welcome: registration on the website: 100womensaltspring.org.