The Chatham-Kent chapter of 100+ Women Who Care has donated $13,150 to volunteers who stride towards providing healthy meals to those in need.
The "Sandwich Guys" volunteer their time every week to the Street Frenz Sandwich Run program, which is an organization based out of Gregory Drive Alliance Church. Meals are delivered every Thursday evening around the Chatham area to those in need. An average of 80 meals has been served each week this year, which adds up to approximately $10,816.
"Thank you so much! This will ensure we will be around for years to come!" said Thom Maxwell, Sandwich Guys co-leader. "I'm speechless!"
The local chapter of 100+ Women Who Care has donated more than $150,000 to 14 charities in the community since August 2016. This donation is the group's largest donation to date and was first presented to 100+ Women Who Care CK by Lindsay Nicholls during their November meeting.
The donation comes at a good time for the Street Frenz Ministry as they look at future funding opportunities.
According to a news release, the group received $14,500 from the Chatham-Kent Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative. However, as specified by the municipality the funding is year-to-year and will end soon.
Chantal Perry, program manager of employment and social services, said funding to the group -- as well as other similar organizations -- were handed out in March 2019. She also mentioned that programs are re-evaluated on a constant basis to determine which ones better serve the needs of the community.
Aside from the Sandwich Run, the Street Frenz Ministry organizes monthly barbeques and grocery boosts for local families. For this year alone, roughly 6,140 meals will be served which translates to approximately $23,776. Although the initiatives are volunteer-driven there are expenses that relate to equipment and venue.