Farms at Work, a non-profit organization that has been strengthening farm resilience and supporting community food security for 16 years, will be receiving a $10,000-plus donation from 100 Women Peterborough.
The collective philanthropy group held its third meeting of 2026 on Tuesday (September 15) at Ashburnham Funeral Home & Reception Centre. At each of the group’s quarterly meetings, members hears presentations from three non-profit organizations randomly drawn from a larger list of organizations nominated by the group’s members. Each member commits to donating $100, and the organization that gets the most member votes receives the collective donations.
The three organizations that presented to 100 Women Peterborough at September’s meeting were Peterborough Folk Festival, Youth Unlimited Lakefield, and Farms at Work, with the latter chosen by majority vote to receive member donations.
The donation from 100 Women Peterborough will support the development of the new Peterborough Community Farm on Matchett Line, a collaborative model for agriculture and food production where new and establishing farm businesses, community members, and local organizations can learn, work, and grow together.
The farm will provide access to growing space, shared infrastructure, mentorship, and business learning, helping farmers build viable enterprises while strengthening the region’s local food system.
“We are incredibly grateful to receive this support today,” said Farms at Work community farm planner Andrea Hicks. “These funds will help make essential infrastructure possible, including a reliable well and irrigation system, so growers can cultivate food and build their businesses, even in challenging growing conditions.”
Farms at Work will be hosting a launch event Peterborough Community Farm on Saturday, October 3, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Community members are invited to learn more about the farm, the opportunities it will create, and how they can support its development.
As for 100 Women Peterborough, the group recently established a new leadership team after the original founders decided to step back after eight years of leading the group.
“Our collective continues to support incredible organizations that are doing meaningful work right here in our community,” said Natalie Raponi, a new member of the leadership team. “Nothing makes us prouder than seeing women come together to lift up our community through their donations. As our collective grows, so does the impact we can make, and tonight is a wonderful example of that.”
Since its formation in 2018, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated over $290,000 to 31 local organizations.
Organizations that have received member donations include:
- YWCA Peterborough Haliburton
- Vinnies Peterborough
- Hospice Peterborough
- Peterborough Youth Unlimited
- One Roof Warming Room
- New Canadians Centre
- Cameron House
- Five Counties Children’s Centre
- Casa De Angelae
- Lakefield Animal Welfare Society
- Community Care Peterborough
- Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre
- Community Counselling and Resource Centre
- Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services
- Heads Up for Inclusion
- Kawartha Youth Orchestra
- Peterborough GreenUP
- Bridges Peterborough
- YMCA Strong Communities
- Homeward Bound Peterborough
- Good Neighbours Care Centre and Food Bank
- PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network
- Camp Kawartha
- Teachers For Kids Foundation
- Hearts 4 Joy
- Camp Northern Lights
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough
- Jude’s Joy
- Peterborough Child and Family Centres
- Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region
- Farms at Work
100 Women Peterborough is part of a growing collective philanthropy movement that began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the “100 Women Who Care” group. After their first meeting, those women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization.
The movement has grown over the past two decades years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with hundreds of chapters in Canada alone.
100 Women Peterborough’s final meeting of 2026 is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8. For more information and to join the group, visit www.100womenptbo.ca.
