The Shoebox Project for Women is a registered charity that collects and distributes gift-filled Shoeboxes to local women impacted by homelessness across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. We aim to foster safe, supportive and inclusive communities by facilitating compassionate gestures of kindness between our supporters and local women experiencing homelessness.
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Our Mission is to uplift and empower London women who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness through in-kind support, education and community participation, and to foster equitable communities where all women are seen, valued, and treated with dignity and compassion.
What you are doing and include how people can get involved.
The Shoebox Project for Women, a heartfelt initiative, was established in 2011 in the heart of Toronto by four compassionate Mulroney sisters who aimed to bring some holiday cheer to local women in their community. Together, they rallied friends and acquaintances to assemble Shoeboxes filled with holiday gifts - small luxuries capable of brightening any woman's day.That first holiday season, their goal was to collect 156 Shoeboxes; just enough to serve the women living at one Toronto family shelter. By word of mouth and the power of social media, they ended up receiving 400 Shoeboxes that year - enough gifts for women accessing four local shelters. The Mulroney sisters realized that their little "Shoebox Project" had legs, and a national movement was officially born.
Over the past decade, The Shoebox Project has distributed approximately 242,150 Shoeboxes not only throughout Canada but also in the USA and the UK. Additionally, they've contributed over $1.2 million in gift cards and essential items directly to women in need, reaching out to more than 510 shelters and community agencies. In our very own Forest City, our local chapter has been making a meaningful impact for several years. With each passing year, the need for acts of kindness and support has grown. In 2022, the demand for our gift-filled shoeboxes tripled compared to the previous year. It was a significant request, but our generous community rose to the occasion, not only meeting but surpassing the donation requirements.Now, as we face unprecedented levels of demand once again, we humbly call upon our community to come together and create an exceptionally memorable holiday season for the most vulnerable members of our community.
We are actively seeking volunteers to participate in our holiday drive. There are numerous ways for individuals to get involved, and all volunteer roles are listed on our local chapter's website. (https://www.shoeboxproject.ca/chapters/london)
Your participation can make a world of difference for those in need, ensuring that the spirit of giving and compassion shines brightly in our community during this special time of year.
And if there is a specific way YOU would like to get involved outside of these volunteer roles (ex: hosting a Shoebox party, fundraiser event, involving your company, etc), please email us at: london@shoeboxprogram.com. We'd love to find ways to support your initiatives.
Please share with us why you are a Pillar Nonprofit Network Member. What have you gained from being a Pillar Member?
Being a part of the Pillar Nonprofit Network offers our charity an array of invaluable benefits. We find immense value in the collaborative spirit that runs through this network, enabling us to share resources, establish meaningful connections within a compassionate community, and foster partnerships across diverse sectors. This not only amplifies our outreach but also allows us to promote our initiatives and garner much-needed awareness.
What's more, our charity's values seamlessly align with Pillar's overarching mission, which is to cultivate an engaged, inclusive, and vibrant community by addressing the persistent and deep-seated issues of oppression and inequities. Our partnership with Pillar amplifies our ability to make a positive impact in our community and aligns us with like-minded organizations working towards meaningful change.
Contact Name: Michelle Stanescu
Our Mission is to uplift and empower London women who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness through in-kind support, education and community participation, and to foster equitable communities where all women are seen, valued, and treated with dignity and compassion.
What you are doing and include how people can get involved.
The Shoebox Project for Women, a heartfelt initiative, was established in 2011 in the heart of Toronto by four compassionate Mulroney sisters who aimed to bring some holiday cheer to local women in their community. Together, they rallied friends and acquaintances to assemble Shoeboxes filled with holiday gifts - small luxuries capable of brightening any woman's day.That first holiday season, their goal was to collect 156 Shoeboxes; just enough to serve the women living at one Toronto family shelter. By word of mouth and the power of social media, they ended up receiving 400 Shoeboxes that year - enough gifts for women accessing four local shelters. The Mulroney sisters realized that their little "Shoebox Project" had legs, and a national movement was officially born.
Over the past decade, The Shoebox Project has distributed approximately 242,150 Shoeboxes not only throughout Canada but also in the USA and the UK. Additionally, they've contributed over $1.2 million in gift cards and essential items directly to women in need, reaching out to more than 510 shelters and community agencies. In our very own Forest City, our local chapter has been making a meaningful impact for several years. With each passing year, the need for acts of kindness and support has grown. In 2022, the demand for our gift-filled shoeboxes tripled compared to the previous year. It was a significant request, but our generous community rose to the occasion, not only meeting but surpassing the donation requirements.Now, as we face unprecedented levels of demand once again, we humbly call upon our community to come together and create an exceptionally memorable holiday season for the most vulnerable members of our community.
We are actively seeking volunteers to participate in our holiday drive. There are numerous ways for individuals to get involved, and all volunteer roles are listed on our local chapter's website. (https://www.shoeboxproject.ca/chapters/london)
Your participation can make a world of difference for those in need, ensuring that the spirit of giving and compassion shines brightly in our community during this special time of year.
And if there is a specific way YOU would like to get involved outside of these volunteer roles (ex: hosting a Shoebox party, fundraiser event, involving your company, etc), please email us at: london@shoeboxprogram.com. We'd love to find ways to support your initiatives.
Please share with us why you are a Pillar Nonprofit Network Member. What have you gained from being a Pillar Member?
Being a part of the Pillar Nonprofit Network offers our charity an array of invaluable benefits. We find immense value in the collaborative spirit that runs through this network, enabling us to share resources, establish meaningful connections within a compassionate community, and foster partnerships across diverse sectors. This not only amplifies our outreach but also allows us to promote our initiatives and garner much-needed awareness.
What's more, our charity's values seamlessly align with Pillar's overarching mission, which is to cultivate an engaged, inclusive, and vibrant community by addressing the persistent and deep-seated issues of oppression and inequities. Our partnership with Pillar amplifies our ability to make a positive impact in our community and aligns us with like-minded organizations working towards meaningful change.
Contact Name: Michelle Stanescu
Contact Email: london@shoeboxprogram.com
Website: https://www.shoeboxproject.ca/chapters/london
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