THUNDER BAY – When Faryn Gysen was in Grade 9, her mother showed her a Facebook post about an organization that collected purses for women in need, filled them with essentials and handed them out.
She decided it was something Thunder Bay could definitely benefit from, so she began her own drive, called Project Purse, and set out to make life a little easier for women in her own hometown, collecting items such as toothbrushes and shampoo to feminine products and, to help boost self esteem, fun things like jewellry.
On Thursday it was announced the 17-year-old was one of several recipients of a Tbaytel For Good grant, given $1,500 to help carry on her mission.
“It’s so cool to see how excited they get and it’s just something that we all have really means something big to them,” Gysen said.
“This money that Tbaytel is giving me for a grant is really going to help this year. It’s not only raised awareness for Project Purse, but it’s also going to help purchasing extra items for the purses, raising advertising for more awareness, and as well I’m hoping to buy gift cards in the purses so the woman in vulnerable times can buy a meal.”
Two organizations, both in the region, received the top grant of $5,000. The Kenora Curling Club got the money for its Everyone Curls program, to introduce as many people in the community to the sport, at all levels of participation.
Nipigon’s Edge Arts program also got $5,000 to help fund a multi-use space in the community where drop-in programming for youth aged 12 to 18 will be staged and encourage youngsters to explore their creativity through the arts.
Jonna Zechner, with the township of Nipigon, said they’ll offer arts, language and music classes into the community, something that’s severely lacking at this time.
“The teachers try their best, but there’s not enough,” Zechner said.
“We’ve seen a lot of community members move to Thunder Bay or elsewhere to communities that offer those dance lessons or music lessons so they can take them. We’re hoping once we have these programs they’ll stay in the community.”
Zechner said it’s nice to see a publicly owned utility like Tbaytel keep grassroots projects on their radar, in addition to larger sponsorship opportunities.
“It’s good that they think about their small towns and it was actually a good campaign because it gave the people of Nipigon a chance to give their input and vote and the community all stuck together.”
Included at the $1,500 level was Red Lake’s St. John School, who will use the grant to purchase equipment for their cross country ski club, and the Thunder Bay Quilter’s Guild, whose money will be put toward a two-day Bit Quilt Bee for Charity. The Fort Frances Community Garden also picked up $1,500 to help expand its services and feed more people.
Several $500 grants were also handed out.
