Nyanyas fundraising for African grandmothers

Nyanyas Ruth de Laat (back, left), Sandra Hardy, Peggy Hooke, Erinn Lockard of Sweets & Swirls Cafe, Audrey Glauser, Terry Mactaggart, Marlene Bridgman, Heather Hall, Maureen Dalgleish, and (sitting) Joyce Loewen and Charlotte Letkemann are ready

The Nyanyas of Niagara have teamed up with Sweets & Swirls Cafe at the Community Centre to sell Christmas cookie boxes, a fundraiser to help the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s grandmothers’ campaign.

The local Nyanyas (Swahili for grandmother) belong to one of more than 260 grandmothers’ and grandmothers’ groups that raise money for the campaign, launched by the Lewis Foundation in 2006 in response to the crisis faced by African grandmothers as they struggled to raise millions of children orphaned by AIDS.

Since then, a growing number of grandmothers’ groups has raised funds to support the life-enhancing programs run by African grandmothers, and the community-based organizations which support them.

Today, African grandmothers continue to raise the next generation while two pandemics intersect, HIV and AIDS and COVID-19.

The need has grown even greater, says Nyanya Terry Mactaggart, one of the original founders of the group, with fundraising opportunities limited by the pandemic, making it more difficult to ensure community-based organizations in Africa have the resources to support their programs.

Hoping to provide ongoing support, the Nyanyas are offering two sizes of boxes with wonderful treats that make tasty gifts for family members, friends, neighbours, and to just have on hand to enjoy with guests. And the real gift is supporting a great cause.

The small box has 12 cookies (two of six different kinds) for $20, and the large box will have 24 cookies (four of each kind) for $30.

The cookies are chocolate coconut macaroons, peppermint shortbread with a chocolate drizzle, decorated sugar cookies, almond crescents, caramel date and oat squares, and gingerbread men.

All orders must be placed and paid for by Sunday, Dec. 12. There are two pickup dates: Thursday, Dec. 16, and Friday, Dec. 17, both days from 2 to 5:30 p.m.

To place an order email Erinn at [email protected]. Payment can be made by cash, cheque, or e-transfer.

To pay by debit or credit card, call Erinn at 905-468-1024.