Female Athletes Finding Ways To Support Community Programs In Tough Times
Time off from the MCAC schedule has given a new opportunity for CMU varsity teams to focus their attention on personal and community development. Members of the women's volleyball, basketball and soccer programs began October by spending three days on campus in Marpeck Commons, requesting donations of hygiene products in support of Winnipeg's North End Women's Centre (NEWC).
Established in 1984, NEWC is the longest running women's resource centre in Winnipeg, facilitating opportunities for women-identified people in healing, wellness and capacity building through diverse, community-based approaches.
Women's volleyball head coach Jayme Menzies headed up this project as a chance for CMU female athletes to join together in support of a cause. "The North End Women's Centre strengthens our community by lifting up individuals who find themselves in need of assistance," she said. "At this time, they are calling for essential hygiene products and I am so proud of our female athletes at CMU for putting the time and thought into answering this call."
From mittens to chapstick, the CMU women's teams collected three large boxes of items for donation that they dropped off in-person by representatives from each team on Thursday afternoon. From left, Chloe Boulet and Julia Schatkowsky (women's basketball), Tiegan Kroeker (women's soccer), Jess Edel and Mackenzy Groot (women's volleyball) and Melissa Gilbert (women's soccer).
"It has been so nice to see all of the female athletes come together and support such an important local cause," said Groot, a third-year middle with the women's volleyball program.
From the athlete's side of planning, Groot took a special interest in this project; "A few months ago, I watched a video of an individual interviewing multiple women living on the streets. The interviewer asked these women what items they struggled to go without on a daily basis. The women listed items such as feminine hygiene products, undergarments, socks and many other more essential everyday items. This video not only broke my heart, it was also extremely eye opening for me and reminded me how privileged I really am. It inspired me to try to make a positive change for women in our community that are not as fortunate as I have been."
For more information on the North End Women's Centre, find them at 394 Selkirk Avenue or online at https://newcentre.org/.
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