Being that it is International Women’s Day, #IWD2021 and the theme is #ChooseToChallenge, it’s important that we take today to begin to have a dialogue around the state of women’s housing needs and homelessness in Canada.
Because of the compassion and hard work of the people of St. Catharines and Niagara, Start Me Up Niagara will be able to continue its mission to provide a variety of services to individuals who face significant life challenges to provide them with opportunities to stabilize, participate and grow.
Laura Dumas comes to Start Me Up Niagara with over 30 years’ experience in the not for profit world. She has had the privilege to work with volunteers and marginalized individuals in many organizations within and outside of the Niagara Region.
Start Me Up Niagara is pleased to announce that Laura Dumas has been named as the organization’s new Executive Director. Laura will succeed Susan Venditti who is retiring on November 30, 2020. Laura brings over thirty years of not-for-profit experience with the Elizabeth Fry Society, March of Dimes and most recently Community Support Services of Niagara where she served as Program Manager.
For over 10 years, Start Me Up Niagara has enjoyed the use of a two-acre community farm space at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. The VRIC generously donated us this space so we can grow food for our meal programs and to offer to our community at a low cost, helping us to promote wellness and food security in our neighbourhood.
Community support is important, but due to COVID-19 and a limitation on space, there are things we cannot accept as donations. Here are some items we can accept, and also clarification on what we can't (and why).
Despite the many challenges, Start Me Up continued to work and remain open through the pandemic. With the virus threat level reduced, and the city preparing to further re-open businesses and services, Start Me Up Niagara is also entering its next phase of its pandemic response.