Helping rural communities

The Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada are informing others about national and international issues as well as assisting in rural communities .

The organization promotes women, families and communities with its goal to empower women to make a difference. The group was first formed in Stoney Creek, Ont. in 1897 and started when one woman lost her 14 month old son due to drinking contaminated milk. She then started a campaign to educate women in household management. Since then, they have started a Reaching Ontario Sharing Education program which educates rural women and the community.

President of the Wabash branch of the Women’s Institute, Shirley Phillips has been a member of the group since 2006. She said they are very active in the community.

“Someone who wishes to join the group such as this, they can help in the community, that’s where we focus our attention too,” said Phillips. “It is a worldwide organization, so there are the area meetings and our meetings.”

The Wabash Women’s Institute’s meetings involve having an educational program and help out with their charity work. The group has done various things for the community such as donating household items and handmade quilts to Children’s Aid.

“We did get the speed limit lowered in Wabash. We’ve had a lot of deaths and accidents in Wabash because the trucks and cars speed through,” said Connie Martin who is the treasurer of the institute. “We’ve also given an award to Lambton Kent Composite School for family studies. We give money to the food bank, to the legion and we’ve sponsored the Scouts in Wabash for over 60 years.”

Martin said they are looking forward to their upcoming chicken barbeque event which most of the people in the community help out with. The money made from this event will go towards their Wabash community hall, charities, Children’s Aid and the community.