Friends of Grassroot Grannies
 NEWSLETTER 
We appreciate your interest in the Grassroot Grannies and the work we do to support the 
Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and 
the Grandmothers Advocacy Network GRAN
HomeNewsletterEventsAdvocacyProducts

You are receiving this newsletter because you have given us your email address for this purpose. If you do not wish to continue to receive our newsletters click here to 
unsubscribe.
Canadian grannies 
supporting 
African grannies
Hello, friends,

Another year promises to bloom bright for the Grassroot Grannies as our plans get underway for our three main fundraising activities. As always we appreciate your interest and support in what we are doing to help African grannies and their families. 


Spring 2024 Issue

Judy Hansen, Karen Whiteside
Co-Chairs -Grassroot Grannies
Grassroot Grannies Update – What's in store for this year? 
Sweet 16!  Yes, this is the 16th year for our annual Plant Sale being held on the Saturday before Mother's Day - May 11, 2024 - from 8 a. m. to 12 noon at 65 Knudsen Drive, Kanata. Come early for the best selection of everything. We will be offering hardy perennials from our gardens, as well as herbs, and vegetable seedlings. There will be many Pretty Pots, special flowering plants made just for Mother's Day gifts. In addition, there will be two master gardeners on hand to answer any questions you have about your garden. 


We will have our popular note cards for sale and a raffle of gift baskets full of interesting items. You won't want to miss this welcome to spring event! Looking forward to seeing you there!


This year we will be expanding the Market Place part of the event. As in the past we will be offering previously used, and in good condition, garden tools, gardening books and art. New this year will be more garden art hand crafted by the grannies such as concrete stepping stones, wooden hanging garden planters and spring burlap garden wreaths. 

Stella Val with garden stepping stones.
See our poster on the grassrootgrannies.com website and watch for our signs throughout the community. 

The 15th Ride to Turn the Tide 

The Ride Committee had its first meeting on January 30 under the leadership of our chair Stella Val to plan this year's ride set for September 4th and 5th. We discussed ways to attract more riders and made the decision to run a one day ride and a two day ride again. Meet and Greet rides will be organized throughout the summer. One of our members will contact a school to set up a visit for education purposes again. Finding new sponsors is an ongoing task. The next meeting will take place on April 3. 

Report on Book, Crafts and Coffee Event, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 

Our annual fall Book, Crafts and Coffee event went through a metamorphosis this year and was a resounding success. In fact, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. It had a new name, a new format and a new venue! Under the capable leadership of Ute Webb the committee worked hard to broaden the appeal of our event. The morning event which ran from 9 to noon was held in the spacious St. Isidore Church Hall where guests could view the books, purchase gifts for Christmas and enjoy coffee and home-made baked goods with friends. Some people stayed for the entire morning. 
Our event generated over $4000 for the SLF, the highest amount ever raised by this fundraiser. The Church was delighted to host our event and has invited us back this year.


SLF Update 

March 8 was International Women's Day and has been deemed a day of celebration, power, resistance, and respect for those women who have shown leadership in fighting for health and human rights to end AIDS. The theme for IWD is Invest in Her and the day focused on sharing stories of seven African Grannies and three Canadians and the work they are doing. This theme will run through all the awareness-raising endeavors of 2024. 

International Grandmothers Gathering in Winnipeg Oct. 24-26, 2023

This was the first Canadian gathering since 2006 and was the first ever hybrid on-line and in-person meeting with representatives from 11 African countries participating from afar. The African grannies reported that their lives are changing for the better, they have more confidence and skill in speaking out and that the governments in their countries are no longer ignoring them. The rallying cry from the African grandmothers is 'nothing about us without us'. 


The 20th Anniversary Commemorative Solidarity Quilt 

The Quilt has been well received wherever it has been and will continue to travel to towns and cities across Canada for all of 2024. It is presently in British Columbia.


Ottawa-Gatineau Regional Grandmothers Network (O-GRGN) Update

A  Grannyfest is planned for June 5, 2024 at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa Church. The theme of the day will be Harambee a Swahili expression for All Pull Together. Meg French , CEO of the SLF will be attending. More information to come.

Grandparents Day, Sept. 8, 2024 
This day will be devoted to raising national awareness of the Grandmothers Campaign across Canada. Ideas for its content and format are presently being discussed. 


As we look forward to another productive year we appreciate all the support you continue to give us in our work with African grandmothers. 

Choosing perennials, vegetables and herbs.