Local Women Support Suicide Prevention Committee

The Saint John Suicide Prevention Committee is receiving more than $25,000 from a group of generous women in the Saint John region.

100 Women Who Care of Greater Saint John made its 33rd donation during the group’s quarterly meeting held virtually Tuesday night.

The group heard five-minute presentations from the Saint John Suicide Prevention Committee, along with the Rocmaura Foundation and the Elizabeth Fry Society.

Members in attendance each donated $100 to the charity they chose as a group. At the end of the night, the Saint John Suicide Prevention Committee received $25,200.

“Women continue to be inspired by the efficient and meaningful work of our organization, and women continue to rise up and join our organization,” co-founder Debbie Rathwell said in a news release.

“We are confident that our impact on our local charitable communities will continue to thrive for many years to come, and our donations are especially needed during these very challenging times that the Coronavirus pandemic has shone upon us.”

Since its inception eight years ago, the local chapter of 100 Women Who Care has donated more than $801,000.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Bee Me Kidz also provided an update of how it used the nearly $26,000 it received from the women in March.

Executive director Missy Bewick said the money helped provide six of its free Saturday family program, where more than 1,200 at-risk people were impacted.

“This means that more than 150 families received a healthy free meal and snacks each week. For some of our families this might have been the only healthy meal they would have eaten all week,” said Bewick.

The group also delivered more than 1,800 hours of social and emotional learning to both the parents and their children, she said.

Bewick said the lesson, taught by paid educators, covered topics like how to be a good friend, problem-solving, diversity, empathy, respect, emotions, and calming down strategies.