The Impacts of COVID on Women and Unemployment

Posted Mar 29th, 2021 in Research and Advocacy

The pandemic's impact on our economy, our society, and our community are only now beginning to be understood. While it may take years for a complete picture to be analyzed and understood, we are already seeing the real impacts on our participants and the vulnerable in our homes and streets in St. Catharines and across Niagara. Sadly, we found that COVID has hit women, particularly mothers with young children, the hardest. "Canada's labour market saw months of gains wiped out in a matter of w...

Fighting Back Against Food Insecurity in Niagara

Posted Mar 23rd, 2021 in Research and Advocacy

Start Me Up Niagara hopes to begin the conversation around food insecurity and how some in our community live in a food desert by highlighting this issue. Right now, in hundreds of homes in Niagara, children, men and women are waking up to the anxiety and the realization that they are not sure where their next meal is. Tragically, many of those same people are going to bed on an empty stomach.

5 Tips for Improving Your Mental Health and Wellbeing

Posted Mar 22nd, 2021 in Mental Health and Wellbeing

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the mental health and wellbeing of many in Niagara have suffered. Start Me Up Niagara has put together a list of tips and resources available to everyone in the Niagara-area. Remember, a healthy community starts with you!

Vaccinating The Homeless: Protecting Our Vulnerable Population

Posted Mar 19th, 2021 in News & Updates

A total of five clinics have been set up at different shelters across the Region – the last clinic being held today. Planning for the vaccine clinics began in January. Still, Stobbe said administering the flu shot last fall also helped prepare REACH and the Region for the COVID clinics. Niagara Public Health is working with the Region’s homelessness services and medical professionals from Regional Essential Access to Connected Healthcare (REACH) Niagara. Approximately 50 to 60 percent of tho...

Choose To Challenge: Women and Homelessness

Posted Mar 8th, 2021 in Research and Advocacy

Being that it is International Women’s Day, #IWD2021 and the theme is #ChooseToChallenge, it’s important that we take today to begin to have a dialogue around the state of women’s housing needs and homelessness in Canada.

A Different Kind of Walk

Posted Mar 2nd, 2021 in News & Updates

Because of the compassion and hard work of the people of St. Catharines and Niagara, Start Me Up Niagara will be able to continue its mission to provide a variety of services to individuals who face significant life challenges to provide them with opportunities to stabilize, participate and grow.

Meet SMUN's New Executive Director

Posted Dec 11th, 2020 in News & Updates

Laura Dumas comes to Start Me Up Niagara with over 30 years’ experience in the not for profit world. She has had the privilege to work with volunteers and marginalized individuals in many organizations within and outside of the Niagara Region.

Start Me Up Niagara Welcomes New Director

Posted Dec 10th, 2020 in News & Updates

Start Me Up Niagara is pleased to announce that Laura Dumas has been named as the organization’s new Executive Director. Laura will succeed Susan Venditti who is retiring on November 30, 2020. Laura brings over thirty years of not-for-profit experience with the Elizabeth Fry Society, March of Dimes and most recently Community Support Services of Niagara where she served as Program Manager.

Transforming Lives Through Our Community Garden

Posted Oct 29th, 2020 in Community Garden

For over 10 years, Start Me Up Niagara has enjoyed the use of a two-acre community farm space at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. The VRIC generously donated us this space so we can grow food for our meal programs and to offer to our community at a low cost, helping us to promote wellness and food security in our neighbourhood.

How Best to Donate to Start Me Up

Posted Oct 28th, 2020 in News & Updates

Community support is important, but due to COVID-19 and a limitation on space, there are things we cannot accept as donations. Here are some items we can accept, and also clarification on what we can't (and why).

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