At My Sister's Place, business skills come with community, laughter and healing
Women make jewelry and other crafts at The Coach House on Dundas Street
There are no elves in a small building on Dundas Street next to the low-barrier drop-in centre called My Sister's Place, but you'd be forgiven if you went inside and thought you'd walked into Santa's workshop.
"There's so much creativity and positivity because we're creating something with our own hands — and then seeing the end result and being able to sell it and earn money off of it," said Sheela Gurushanta, the program co-ordinator.
"It's very fulfilling for the women, not just financially but also emotionally and mentally."
Everything from bracelets, necklaces and framed pieces are created at the southern-facing Coach House, where sunlight streams in as the women work. Eighty per cent of the proceeds go to the artist, and the rest back to the program, run by CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services.
"It's amazing when someone buys your jewlery. Someone sees your vision. It's deeply gratifying and affirming," said Susan Smith, one of the women who works at the micro-enterprise.
"The idea was to help women start a small business, so basically to repurpose old jewlery, yarn, fabric," Gurushanta added.
Some of the women are already talented artists, while others are taught skills in the program. They use materials donated by community members to create what speaks to them, she added.
"We couldn't run this program without the community's help," Gurushanta said.
"The old jewlery comes from the community, and the community comes back to support us. We do corporate gifts, we do customized pieces, and the women learn small business skills. It helps make them financially independent and gives them a sense of well-being."
To hear more uplifting community stories, join us at the London Food Bank on Dec. 13 from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. as we raise money and Make The Season Kind as part of our annual campaign.