By Jenna Cocullo, Local Journalism Initiative
Two years since its founding, 100 Men Who Care reached a milestone by giving out more than $100,000 in donations to support local charity.
On Friday the men’s charity group presented the Refuge Pregnancy Resource Centre, on Grand Avenue West in Chatham, with a $9,600 donation.
“It’s a blessing,” said BJ Kivell, director of the pregnancy centre. “I think more people are in need than ever before.”
The centre offers free pregnancy support to women and families who find themselves in unexpected pregnancies and are not sure what to do, need help with baby supplies, or who are in need of free prenatal workshops. The charity also partners women with a doula who offers support until their child turns one. They service around 40 women per week.
The funding is especially welcome this year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the centre to cancel its big yearly Baby Boomerang Fundraiser.
Every quarter, the members of 100 Men Who Care nominate a local charity and vote on who they would like to see receive the funds. Since its inception, the group has donated more than $100,000 to the community.
“Chatham-Kent is such a giving community, it really, really is. We can’t even meet as a group, we’re doing everything online, and we still have men that are committed to helping out in the community,” said Chris Appleton, co-chair of 100 Men Who Care.
