Click to go to the Homepage

Providing leadership, advocacy, opportunities, and a voice.
Empowering women, gender-diverse people, and their families, every day!

Providing leadership, advocacy, opportunities, and a voice.
Empowering women, gender-diverse people, and their families, every day!

Aquamovement and Exercise for Older Adults

It’s fun, friendly, and the perfect way to move and groove in the pool! | Ages 55+ | Tuesdays until Dec 16

Learn more

Keep a Roof Over Their Heads

You can make a difference – Join us in our campagin to support affordable housing and poverty interventions throughout Elgin County

Donate today!

Home Alone - Red Cross Stay Safe Courses

Fall registration now open | For youth ages 9 -13 years old

Learn more & register today

Red Cross Babysitting Courses

Fall registration now open | For youth ages 11 – 15 years old

Learn more & register today
St.Thomas CW Coat Giveaway 2025
Don’t let the warmer weather fool you….Winter is coming!
 
Through the help of our community ClothingWorks and Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes will be giving away lightly used Winter coats and accessories to anyone in need. No questions asked, no registration…just first come, first serve.
 
We are proud to invite you to the Winter Coat & Accessories Giveaway Days on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25 from 9am – 4pm at YWCA located at 16 Mary Street West.
 
Last year we were able to serve 400 visitors in just 2 days and we hope to do the same again this year. Please bring a bag to take your items home and your patience as there will be a line up outside as a handful of visitors will be let in at a time to ensure there is enough space for everyone when looking through the products.
 
Special thank you to the many ClothingWorks for their master organization skills, each Goodwill location who have been collecting and sorting items since August and the hundreds of donors who are helping keep our community warm this Winter.
NESS Fund

Canada’s first National Emergency Survivor Support Fund providing women, gender-diverse people and their families with financial support to leave unsafe homes or emergency shelters/precarious housing situations and begin their healing journeys.

Apply Now

School Age Childcare

Looking for School Age Childcare?

Before and after school care at 10 locations

Settlement Services for Newcomers to Canada

New to Canada?

Let’s make Elgin County home

Housing for Women

In need of housing?

Supportive housing application for women & men

Housing for Women-led famillies

Seeking support for your family?

Women-led family transitional home application

Amy’s journey

Amy now holds her head up high; with a radiant smile and looks forward to the future.

Read More

Courtney’s journey

Home is not a place… it’s a feeling

Read More

Lisa’s journey

A reflection of the Housing Supports offered through the YWCA.  Struggling with generational poverty, abuse and addictions, at age 48 Lisa was referred to the YWCA St. Thomas Elgin by her continuing education teacher. Lisa was trying to make changes in an environment...
Read More

Natalie’s journey

The YWCA gave me the opportunity to start over and choose a better life.

Read More

Paula’s journey

Struggling with abuse and addictions, at age 30, Paula was referred to the YWCA through the Community By-Names list and adult shelter. Paula was sleeping on the street and ally ways to avoid the adult shelter in town as she had been clean for about one month and did...
Read More

Rachel’s journey

I would like to start by asking you all a very simple question, have you ever felt uncertain about something? I’m sure you have. Perhaps the most obvious thing would be about the future, right? I want you to hold onto that feeling…imagine being told right now, that...
Read More
Donate today
Contact Us

Recent News

Announcing our 2020/21 Board of Directors Nominees

Announcing our 2020/21 Board of Directors Nominees

May 22, 2020  YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin announces proposed slate for Board of Directors for 2020/21. Erica Arnett – Erica has a Health Sciences degree from UWO and has been working in Public Health for over 15 years.  Erica recently completed her MBA.  Erica was a member...

Local Love in a Global Crisis

May 1, 2020   We are pleased to announce we were one of nineteen very grateful partners of United Way Elgin Middlesex to receive $20,000 in support during this uncertain time.  This contribution was made possible through funds raised by United Way's Local Love in...

#GivingTuesdayNow – May 5, 2020

#GivingTuesdayNow emphasizes opportunities to give back to communities and causes in safe ways that allow for social connection and kindness even while practicing physical distancing. Though our office may be closed our support of women, men and youth continues...

World YWCA Day – 2020

World YWCA Day – 2020

April 24, 2020 Members of our Youth Housing Department share a special message with our clients and community partners during World YWCA Day. 

View All Recent News

Exit Site
Skip to content