ELLEN MACPHAIL: An active February

The provincial Women’s Institute winter calendar showcases a provincewide 28-day campaign collection of feminine hygiene products, district conventions, children’s art workshop, a gala dinner and branch event.

Kicking off this month is the now annual Taking Care of Women’s Business. Period. 28-day campaign. The WI invites branches and members of the public to challenge each other to collect product or make monetary donations to address the need for feminine hygiene products for P.E.I. food banks. 

The campaign drop-off locations during February include Murphy’s Pharmacies across P.E.I., Main Street Pharmasave in Souris and the WI office at 40 Enman Cres., Charlottetown. Online donations can be made online at URHM.org. Donators are encouraged to send in pictures of their collections for highlight on WI’s and the Taking Care of Women’s Business Facebook pages.

Over $15,000 of product has resulted in combined efforts since 2015. 

A fun art workshop for children ages eight to 10 is planned with artist and WI member Marie Kenny. Participants will develop a colour wheel and complete two paintings on canvas. Registration is limited to 15 participants. The March break event will take place March 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 40 Enman Cres. in Charlottetown. The cost is $10, and supplies are included. Register by March 3 with the P.E.I. Women’s Institute office at [email protected] or by calling 902-368-4860.

PEIWI agriculture convener Ann MacDonald invites volunteers to read farm-related stories to school children in Grades 3 in celebration of Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month in March. To register, visit online at www.peiagsc.ca. For further information, call 902-892-1091. 

From February to April, branches on Prince Edward Island will join in on their perspective district area conventions. Should members of the public wish to attend the district conventions, a complete listing of convention dates is available by contacting the WI Office.

Other important dates in WI’s upcoming calendar include award and scholarship deadlines. For a full list visit of events or awards, visit peiwi.ca.

Miriam Lank, chairwoman of this year’s Spring Is in the Air Gala Dinner invites members of the public to WI’s annual fundraising dinner to be held on April 24, in the Georgian Room at the Rodd Charlottetown. Live and silent auctions will be included with all proceeds going to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Cancer Treatment Centre for a radiation CT simulator. Tickets are available from PEIWI board members and the WI office by visiting 40 Enman Cres. or calling 902-368-4860. 

With close to 75 branches in P.E.I., the PEIWI provincial board is proud to promote branch news. One upcoming event is Meadow Bank WI’s a Spring Fling decorating event with Alan Preston of Hearts and Flowers on April 8, 7:30 p.m., at Afton Hall. For tickets or more information, contact Pam Baglole, 902-566-4834.

The Old Home Week’s Handcrafts, Horticulture and Arts Show takes place in early August, and exhibitors are invited to prepare now by visiting the online version of the official handbook at peiwi.ca. A print copy is now available at the PEIWI office at 40 Enman Cres., Charlottetown. or by calling 902-368-4860.
 

This article is prepared by Ellen MacPhail, executive director of the PEIWI, and appears in the Guardian on the second Friday of the month. For more information on the P.E.I. Women’s Institute, visit peiwi.ca, call 902-368-4860 or email [email protected].