Service Committee Committed to Empowering Women & Girls
Club members offer service through hands-on projects and financial donations to organizations and projects in Oxford County focused on empowering women.
District Project
community Support
International Campaign
Our Service Committee
Our directive is to improve the quality of life for women and children in Oxford County while supporting efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls in all its forms.
What We Do
Club service projects are carried out by our members in which they participate actively and personally in organizing and giving ‘hands-on service,’ in addition to providing funds to organizations for women & children’s initiatives meeting Zonta International guidelines.
Our Approach
The club’s service committee routinely evaluates the organizations in Oxford County that align to our mission and their funding requests. We seek out hands-on projects that offer members opportunities to connect with community members and offer our support.
Hands-on Projects
Assembly of birthing kits for international distribution, chemo kit development for our local hospital, patient hygiene items, & Meals on Wheels.
Club Service Empowering Women through the Distribution of Funds
Our Annual Zonta Golf Classic is the source of Funds.
Dollars raised over 22 years.
Local dollar distributed in 2019
2019 (only) Toronto SickKids dollar donation
Supporting VON’s 2021
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels were delivered this September to homebound seniors by Zonta members, some of whom volunteered husbands and partners to help. Eighty to a hundred meals over five days were delivered by eleven Zonta Volunteers. Thanks to Liz Parks, Anne Campbell, Jane Miller, Cheri Palmer, Ann Pearce, Marg McBurney, Donna Willoughby, Jane Van Patter, Judith Gillatt, Lee-Ann Van Wees and Sue Fenlon for participating.
Pictured here are Liz Parks, Donna and Paul Willoughby and Sue Fenlon on the first day of our week long commitment.
This hands-on project gives Zontians a chance to interact with some of the community members we serve.
Supporting Community Groups
Zonta Woodstock continues to distribute hygiene items to the various wards at the Woodstock Hospital.
This hands-on project gives Zontians a chance to interact with some of the community members we serve.
Judith Gillet from Zonta Woodstock distributed financial support to several of our community partners such as Big Brothers Big Sisters (top) and Children’s Aid Society (bottom) in December 2021.
Local Initiatives
Current Allocations
Zonta International
Zonta Says NO Campaign
Local Projects
Identifying & selecting funding projects meeting our club’s mission.
Zonta Golf Classic Bursaries (3)
Club Service Empowering Women Continues
New Canadians at Blossom Park Educational Centre
Students in this program have been taken on excursions to Woodstock Public Library, Woodstock Museum, and the Woodstock Art Gallery. As well a luncheon with the Mayor was planned and enjoyed.
Remembrance Day
Every year the Zonta Club recognizes the women and men who have been willing to serve in the Canadian Forces to try to provide peace and justice for others. Annually a Zonta member places a wreath at the Woodstock Cenotaph.
Women & Wellness
It was identified that our community was greatly in need of more Canadian Mental Health-Oxford Walk-In Counselling clinics throughout the county. Two-thirds of those accessing these clinics were identified as women and girls, with the oldest being a 74-year-old woman and the youngest being an 11-year-old girl. This was a project that our Zonta Club fully supported and we chose to continue sponsoring this important fundraiser.
VON – Meals on Wheels
For several years, Woodstock Zonta members volunteer to distribute Meals on Wheels for a week. This means, six members per day deliver hot meals for the VON Woodstock on three separate routes. One member drives and her partner delivers the meal to the client’s door. This hands-on activity allows our club to work co-operatively with a community agency, visit with seniors who welcome not only the daily sustenance but the interaction with volunteers and to spend time with a Zontian. All in all, this is a worthwhile and fun service project for our club.
Helping WCI Student Travel to Tanzania with Me to We
Cheri Palmer, Zonta Member presents Yessina Escobar, WCI student a Zonta rose. (L-R) Photo taken by Zonta Woodstock member.
Yessina Escobar, a Grade 11 student at Woodstock Colligate Institute (WCI), Woodstock spoke to club members about her experience travelling to Tanzania and her volunteer efforts in a Me to We build project. A $500 club sponsorship was offered to Yessina in lieu of our 2019 YWPA award.
Woodstock Hospital Hygiene Supplies
The wards at the hospital are supplied with the following items: toothpaste and brushes, shampoo, conditioner, razors, and shaving cream. Zonta has supplied these wards for over 20 years.
Woodstock Hospital Radiothon
This annual event supports the Maternal Child Department at the hospital. Since its inception in October 2017, our Zonta Club has been an on-air sponsor.
Woodstock Hospital Chemo Kits
Patients entering the Woodstock Chemo Unit is offered a carrying bag that holds specific items to assist their journey to good health.
Crock Pot Project
Providing crock pots to Ingamo Homes to teach healthy eating & easy cooking methods for the clients.
Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds!
Go Girls! is a group mentoring program for girls ages 11-14 that focuses on physical activity, balanced eating and self-esteem. The single, most important goal of the program is to positively shape the lives of young women and girls by helping them build a positive self-image – setting them on a path to reach their full potential in life. The Go Girls! program consists of seven mentoring sessions, held over a 7-10 week period, within school facilities. Each session is loosely structured around four themes: physical activity, healthy eating, self-esteem, and communication skills. Our Zonta Club has been a multi-year supporter of this program. Our consistent support has enabled this organization to increase the number of schools and girls that are served.
Ingamo Homes – Christmas Gifts for Moms
Yearly our club has provided gifts that the children may select to give their moms at Christmas. Further, this group receives an annual donation.
Local Initiatives
Past Allocations
Woodstock Hospital Build Breast Screening Project
This project was initiated by a single Zontian and supported by our Club. The Club was instrumental in bringing the program to the Woodstock Hospital and also in providing artwork and gas fireplace to ease the stress of women waiting for the procedure.
Woodstock Hospital Foundation (2015)
Two Paediatric IV pumps
Five newborn bassinets
College Avenue Secondary School (CASS)
When CASS needed a new gym we realized that children needed a place to stay active and our local School Board did not have money to fund this. Zonta joined with the community and provided funds. This gym is used by the community in the evenings. As well we now have our name on a plaque that reminds girls in the community of the need for service.
Zonta Says NO campaign
Community Stories
“The Woodstock Hospital Foundation is proud to have a strong partnership with the Zonta Club of Woodstock. Together we have worked to support various needs at Woodstock Hospital and we look forward to continuing the tradition of working together to support our community.”