Our Woodland Springs W.I. Wish foursome met at the Coffee Culture shop on main street in Mount Forest, early September. Over an array of coffee and lattes, along with muffins and biscotti, we met our new friend Ester. Ester is a lovely lady recently transplanted into the Mount Forest area from Metro Toronto.
Our Wish group ladies described the history of the Women's Institutes, with its inception in 1897, in Stoney Creek, Ontario, mandating to improve rural life, and adopting the motto “For Home and Country”. The organization objective: to provide women with an accessible, wide variety of contacts to secure volunteer based activities, satisfaction and friendship, while supporting the local community projects and charities.
During our conversation of events supported by the Institute, one of the group's agreed favourite charity is the Angel Tree program at Christmas. The Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for families and children registered within the Wellington County/Mount Forest Christmas Hamper charity each year. Once a child or family has been registered and accepted as an Angel recipient, their Christmas wish list is shared with donors in the local community, in the form of a paper Angel ornament on Christmas trees in all the local participating merchants. Citizens can select an Angel, which includes details describing the age and gender of the child. Participants purchase gifts of new clothing, toiletries, and toys, age appropriate for the Angel they have selected. The gifts are collected and distributed, all by volunteers, to the family to place under their own Christmas tree. Every child deserves to experience the joy of Christmas morning!! Last year our Woodland Springs W.I. chapter provided Angel gifts for over 20 families in need.
Our local Mount Forest merchants have been an amazing support to our organization along with others within our community! Planning is already underway for this years Angel program!
Our group presented Ester with the W.I. Bookmark, and as a special bonus, our crafty group member Wendy, had made a beautiful bookmark with hand drawn and coloured sunflowers. Both were accepted with gracious thanks from Ester, our new friend.
After a couple of hours, with coffee drank and treats enjoyed, our group discussed the upcoming W.I. meeting dates with Ester and ensured that she is very welcome to come as our guest to meet even more ladies that live in the area. As they say, “A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden”. Sometimes the best friendships are made unexpectedly!
Welcome Ester our new friend! We really enjoyed meeting you, and hope to see you again soon!
Team Members:
Marion Howes, Team Leader
Wendy Nugteren
Evelyn Dowling
Brenda Rich
New Friend: Ester Shron (Front of Picture)
