It was a shining example of women supporting women that surprised both the event organizer and representatives of the agency chosen to benefit.
Leslie Anne Hook of Urban Runaway, supported by a host of Arnprior and area businesspeople, as well as the greater community, hosted a day-long supply drive for Bernadette McCann House on Friday, March 8, International Women’s Day.
Hook and volunteers were stationed at the Nick Smith Centre for the day, ready to accept items on the wish list for Bernadette McCann House, an organization that includes a women’s shelter, whose mission is to bring positive change by putting an end to abuse through the provision of safety, support, and education for all those who have experienced abuse.
In the evening, Hook hosted a private event that was a celebration of women coming together and friendship and attendees also contributed to the drive.
She’s extremely grateful to all those who donated, helped or supported the event in any way. From businesses, including Racked, that accepted donations prior to the day, to those who promoted it, to those whose donations poured in, she says thank you.
With many in the community who have experienced domestic violence or been affected by it, Bernadette McCann House is a vital organization.
Guests of honour at the dinner were two representatives of Bernadette McCann House who Hook says were “blown away” and slightly overwhelmed by the volume of donations. On an evening that centred around friendship (including an interlude to make friendship bracelets with the supplies and gentle guidance of Dianne Rodger Jewellry), Hook noted the unexpected but wholly welcome support from Kim Orr, Jeannie Ivory, and Buena Grace, who hung around post-event and helped tear down and load the truck.
Along with a delightful meal provided by Alicia Ott of Bee Savvy Fine Foods, attendees were treated to brief speeches by several women-led local businesses, including: Jodie Primeau of Primeau Law, an Ottawa Valley female-founded and female-run law office with Arnprior and Deep River locations; Laurence Roy, a registered physiotherapist at Arnprior Pelvic and Pediatric Physiotherapy; and Jennifer Charlebois-Robillard of Jennifer Charlebois-Robillard Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
(Written by Sherry Haaima; edited by Rick Stow)