The Orange Bag Project

The Orange Bag Project

Service is a rewarding aspect of being a Zontian but during Covid we shifted our activities in response to the acute needs of our community. We donated our dinner funds to several agencies including food banks, shelters, Women’s College Hospital Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre (SA/DVCC), and agencies caring for young mothers. But many of us missed the camaraderie and the community experience of hands-on service work, so we developed the Orange Bag project in response to immediate community needs in a modified way.

The Project

Each month we support a charitable organization or agency by asking what specific items their clients could use. Different member, who are able, purchase the products and take responsibility for delivery. Donations are delivered in Orange Bags bearing the Zonta logo. Depending on weather, Zontians may wear the orange hats and/or Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women T-shirts.

The first Orange Bag was delivered to Sistering in February 2022. Sistering provides a safe space to underhoused women. Sistering’s services include food access, harm reduction, employment support, workshops, drop-in/respite services, case support, medical and housing access.

Since 2022 we have also provided Orange Bags with various products to:

• The South Asian Women’s Centre (olive oil for their food bank)
• Covenant House Anti-Human Trafficking Services for young women (pens and notebooks, personal care; book store gift cards, fidget toys)
• The Elizabeth Fry Society (personal care, hats, scarves)
• Native Women’s Resource Centre (cosmetics, personal care)
• Jessie’s Centre for Young Women (diapers, baby clothes, personal care)
• the Massey Centre (grocery gift cards)
• Second Harvest Food Bank (food, cash donations)
• various women’s shelters (personal care; dish sets for those ready to move out of the shelter, children’s and adult clothing)
• Times Change Women’s Employment Centre (gently used clothing).

Social Media Coverage

The Orange Bag Project allows Zonta Toronto to support our community in need through service, and it raises our profile through social media postings. In addition to our own, we request the receiving organizations also post photos on their social media and in annual reports. The Orange Bag with the Zonta logo is becoming a recognizable image with our social media postings and amongst local women’s service agencies.

This is an opportunity for Service, Advocacy and Membership Committees of Zonta Clubs to collaborate and reach out to difference audiences and perhaps draw a few new members. If you would like more information, please contact Zonta Club of Toronto at service@zontatoronto.org