Photo: Mary Hawk, Founder of Sheen for She
Since 2018, Toronto-based Sheen for She Foundation has been finding ways to help women in vulnerable situations build confidence and self-esteem. Aimed at women fleeing domestic violence or dealing with issues such as homelessness or mental illness, the nonprofit began by offering free workshops for low-income women, with topics ranging from self-defense to self-care. For many in the target demographic, conditions have become even more difficult during the pandemic. Some may not be able to escape their current situations. For those who seek help at a shelter, the required quarantine may add to their feelings of isolation. To address some of this need, Sheen for She created the Love Box Project. These personalized care packages include food, hygiene basics and self-care items like face masks or nail kits, along with a "letter of love." In the last four months, the organization has distributed more than 3,000 Love Boxes, as well as 400 Love Bags (for kids), to women and children in area shelters. Khadija Kathy Ali of Ernestine's Women's Shelter says of the packages, "A lot of the time, the women are like, 'I'm cut off from my family, and sometimes they don't really care about what's going on with me and my children. But here's a complete stranger who has put a box together of items, thinking about me and thinking about my children,' and it's a big impact."
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