Online learning has been difficult for children living at The Redwood during the COVID-19 pandemic because they haven’t had access to necessary equipment, like laptops, headphones, and personal work desks. They can’t access the communal homework room, where they would normally use a desk top computer and sit at a table to do their work. Instead, they are trying to do their school work while sitting on a bunkbed, surrounded by siblings, and using their mothers’ phones to connect to the online classroom!

After hearing about the barriers to online learning that children living at The Redwood were facing, 15 members of The Rotary Club of Parkdale-High Park-Humber collectively raised $4,000 towards this equipment to make sure that children living at The Redwood don’t get left behind during this difficult time.

Members of the Rotary Club of Parkdale-High Park-Humber founded The Redwood and have stayed dedicated to us since our doors opened in 1993. The club wanted to help women and children find refuge from violence, so they worked collaboratively and creatively to secure a former warehouse as the shelter location and called on the community to help get The Redwood up and running. Hundreds of volunteers responded to the call and put their skills to work to turn The Redwood into the safe space that it is today. The club continues to help local charities and grassroots organizations, including The Redwood, to raise funds that support community members in need.

We’re so grateful for the 26-year friendship that we have with the Rotary Club of Parkdale-High Park-Humber and for their recent act of kindness to give children at The Redwood the tools they need to succeed. We’ve always been in this together and thank you for showing us that we continue to be in this together.