From basic essentials to little luxury items to messages of support, women in need in the Kawarthas region will be receiving something special this holiday season.
Kerri Murphy, volunteer coordinator for Kawartha Lakes chapter of The Shoebox Project for Women, says 210 gift-filled shoeboxes have been delivered to four area agencies that serve women affected by poverty and homelessness.
“This year’s holiday shoebox drive in Kawartha Lakes was a great success,” Murphy told kawarthaNOW. “In total, 210 lovely gift-filled shoeboxes were delivered to four local agencies serving women, including Women’s Resources Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Lakes Food Source, A Place Called Home, and Fourcast Addiction Services.”
This was a increase of 30 shoeboxes from last year, Murphy noted.
Each shoebox contains about $50 worth of items and includes basic essentials like self-care products, a gift card, little luxuries, seasonal items, and messages of encouragement filled with care and compassion by the community members who assemble them.
In addition, as an alternative to the donation of gift-filled shoebox, The Shoebox Project Kawartha Lakes also received several online donations that allowed volunteers to create 60 additional shoeboxes.
The holiday shoebox drive ran from November 15 through to December 13. On the 13th, shoeboxes were collected from three dedicated local drop-off locations in Lindsay (Cathy Allan Ladieswear), Fenelon Falls (Lock 34 Yoga), and Bobcaygeon (Paradiso Boutique).
Murphy and a team of volunteers looked through the shoeboxes to ensure they contained suitable items and then distributed them to local agencies on Tuesday (December 17).
“The Shoebox Project for Women is important to me as it uplifts and empowers vulnerable women in our community through in-kind support, education, and community participation,” said Murphy about why the project matters to her personally.
“The undeniable impact of a lovely shoebox gift to a woman experiencing, or at risk of (experiencing), home instability and income insecurity is humbling and heart-warming, especially during the holiday season when it can be a very isolating and lonely time for many women,” she explained.
“I look forward, alongside my caring community, to continue to support local women in need through this wonderful project for years to come.”
In 2025, Murphy hopes to continue to expand the reach of the Kawartha Lakes chapter by engaging more community members, and involving additional community organizations and corporate groups to help fulfil “the very much growing need in our community.”
The Shoebox Project for Women is an unaffiliated, non-religious, Canadian charity that supports women experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. It aims to celebrate diversity, build awareness, challenge stigma, and promote equity.
The not-for-profit charitable organization was founded in Toronto in 2011 by four women in the same family who had noticed that, while there were many opportunities to provide gifts to children experiencing homelessness during the holiday season, there were no such gift drives for their mothers. Today, there are more than 45 local chapters of The Shoebox Project for Women across Canada, almost half of which are in Ontario, as well as chapters in the U.S. and the U.K.
For more information about the Kawartha Lakes chapter, visit www.shoeboxproject.ca/chapters/city-of-kawartha-lakes.
