Hope Totes provide small essentials for women in transition

They are small but essential items that most of us take for granted: a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, a brush, warm socks. But for women in shelters or those who have left familiar environs, often due to abusive relationships, and are trying to forge a new life, even those small essentials can be difficult to obtain. Enter Hope Totes.

The charity was brought to Muskoka last year by Beth Goodhew, whose niece is one of the founders of Hope Totes in Toronto. It was begun 2008 as an annual project to help less fortunate women in the GTA.

“Hope Totes is a 100 per cent volunteer-run organization,” said Goodhew. “I got involved three years ago when I retired. I wanted to be able to give back, and now that I’m living in Muskoka I started it here – last year was our first drive. I thought it was a great idea and an opportunity anyone can participate in. It’s easy to get involved in and really make a difference for women who have challenges, especially this time of year.”

As a member of both the Deerhurst Golf Club and the Huntsville Curling Club, Goodhew reached out to her friends in both organizations to ask for donations throughout the year and to help assemble the totes. Last year, they collected enough to fill 125 Hope Totes; this year, despite early concerns they wouldn’t match that number, they filled 150.

“People have been amazing with their help and volunteering assistance,” said Goodhew. “We did get a lot of cash donations which allowed us to supplement what we already had, purchasing the things that we absolutely needed to fill each bag with all of the essentials. I think we got more this year because we were able to purchase the stuff we needed to fill it in as opposed to separate donations.”

A group of volunteers gathered on two days last week to assemble the totes at the curling club before Goodhew delivered them to the Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group for distribution throughout the year to women at both Muskoka’s shelters and in longer-term transitional housing.

The GTA group has also provided a variety of services at shelters including self-awareness and self-esteem training and yoga classes.

Goodhew said she would love to expand Muskoka’s Hope Totes effort. “It really isn’t difficult to do. It just takes a little bit of focus and some good helpers.”

Hope Totes were created specifically with women in mind, but Goodhew said she recently became aware of the need for Huntsville’s men’s shelter and said there may be opportunity to help in the future.

To learn more about Hope Totes, visit the organizations Facebook page. To make a monetary donation or to contribute products, contact Beth Goodhew at [email protected] or visit the group’s Fundly page.

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