Ottawa, ON – November 23, 2022.  Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO), today announces receiving a grant from Mazon Canada in the amount of $3120.  The funds will be used to purchase food vouchers for some of the most vulnerable immigrant and racialized women and their children in Ottawa and the surrounding areas.

Izzy Waxman, Executive Director of Mazon Canada says, “This has been a hard year for the food security world, and we’re happy that we can help you in this small way. Know that everyone at Mazon Canada, including our thousands of donors, are cheering for you in your efforts to care for your community.”  He continues to say, “Mazon values the wisdom of lived experience very highly. In our grant-making, we are proud to prioritize programs whose leadership shares lived experience with the community they serve – and there is no question that IWSO, guided so deeply by the leadership of first or second generation immigrant women, exemplifies this ethic. This on-the-ground knowledge shines through in their incredibly impactful and life-changing programs, that are aimed at truly empowering these new Canadians and meeting their needs in practical ways. As we say in in our Jewish community: Yasher Koach! Congratulations, and may you stay strong!”

“Many immigrant and racialized women who are newcomers and/or survivors of violence in the home, often face food insecurity and struggle to provide healthy, nutritious food for their children.  With the high cost of food, this holiday season will prove to be very difficult for the women and children we serve.  This grant from Mazon Canada could not have come at a better time.  We are thrilled to be able to extend more assistance to our vulnerable clients by helping them provide a holiday meal for their families” said Mercy Lawluvi, Executive Director of IWSO.

“Every day IWSO sees immigrant and racialized women struggle to feed their families as they flee violence in their homes.  The grant from Mazon Canada gives IWSO the ability to provide more food vouchers to our clients, so they too, can give their children healthy food this holiday season,” says IWSO manager for Crisis Intervention and Counselling Services, Josphine Basudde.

About Immigrant Women Services Ottawa:

The mandate of (IWSO) is to empower immigrant and racialized women in the City of Ottawa and surrounding areas to participate in the elimination of all forms of abuse against women; to provide culturally responsive services which will facilitate their access to community and mainstream services and provide other services/programs which will assist immigrant women in their journey to attain their full potential.  Immigrant Women Services Ottawa is a community-based agency serving immigrant and racialized women. We create opportunities for women as they integrate into a new society, rebuild their lives free of violence, and achieve their personal goals.

About Mazon Canada:

MAZON Canada is the national Jewish response to hunger. On behalf of our Jewish community of Canada, we grant funds to front-line food projects like food banks, school lunch programs, hot meals at shelters, and more. We support both Jewish and non-Jewish programs that provide food for food-insecure people.