Old Orchard Blossoms

Old Orchard Blossoms

In solidarity with Grandmothers in Africa through the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation

Shop

Many of the items we sell are Fair Trade. When you purchase Fair Trade items not only do you support the grandmothers in Africa, but also craftspeople in developing countries who are guaranteed fair wages...
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Donate

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE…  Are you interested in donating to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign? $0.90 of every $1 goes directly to the grassroots organizations in Africa, which support grandmothers. All donations over $20 will...
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Join Us

Are you interested in joining the Old Orchard Blossoms? We always welcome new members, grandmothers and “grand-others” – and new ideas. We meet on the second or third Monday afternoon of each month at the Church of St. Timothy,...
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About Us and Our Partners

Old Orchard Blossoms

Inspired by the amazing grandmothers from Africa at the Grandmothers Gathering in Toronto, in 2006, a handful of women at St. Timothy’s Anglican Church decided to support the work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and its Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign . Our mandate is to raise awareness of the grandmothers’ supportive role in the HIV and AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa and to raise funds to assist grassroots projects run by and for grandmothers supporting their grandchildren and other orphans created by this pandemic. These grandmothers are central to the life of their communities and to a whole generation of children.


Since 2006, our numbers have grown to 18 members, and we have expanded to include women from the community. To date, we have raised $280,000 – our contribution to the more than $40 million raised for the Grandmothers Campaign by 10,000 grandmothers in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. This money has been raised through a variety of projects such as concerts, pub nights, author talks, wine tasting, afternoon tea, an African dinner and sales of greeting cards, crafts, quilts, jewelry, books and milkweed plants, and by participating each year in the national fundraising walk, Stride to Turn the Tide.

Stephen Lewis Foundation

The Stephen Lewis Foundation is a progressive, feminist organization rooted in the principles of social justice, international solidarity, and substantive equality. The SLF was created with the express purpose of supporting community-led organizations working on the frontlines of the AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
Many of these grassroots organizations were originally formed by small groups of individuals responding to the crisis AIDS had wrought in their own lives and in the lives of their neighbours. Over the years, they have developed into thriving local institutions with deep connections to their communities. The SLF’s community-led partners are turning the tide of HIV and AIDS by providing care and support to women, orphaned children, LGBTIQ individuals, grandmothers and people living with HIV and AIDS.

Since 2003, the SLF has partnered with 335 community-led organizations on more than 2100 initiatives in the 15 countries in Africa that have been hardest hit by HIV and AIDS.

Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign

The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign was launched in 2006, as an initiative of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, in response to the emerging crisis faced by grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2006, more than $40 million has been raised in support of grandmothers and the community-led organizations who support them. In the face of discrimination based on gender, age, and HIV status, they are courageous advocates for their families and communities.

Other Toronto and GTA Grandmother Groups

There are several grandmother groups in and near Toronto and we all support the same cause – the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. We often put on events or sales together, and each group is involved in selling original items to support our work. All groups welcome new members. You might be interested in checking out these other groups:

Grandmothers Partnering with Africa https://grandmotherspartneringwithafrica.com/

Brookbanks for African Grannies https://www.brookbanksforafricangrannies.com/

Toronto Grandmothers Embrace https://torontograndmothersembrace.ca/

GranAurora http://granaurora.ca/

Togogos https://www.togogograns.org/

Upcoming Events

Spring Sale! Saturday May 4.

We invite you to our pop up sale at St Timothy’s Anglican Church – North Toronto. 100 Old Orchard Grove from 10 am to 1:30 pm. We hope to be outside the main doors of the church in bright sunny weather, however if it is raining, please enter the church by the north Ridley door (with the rainbow fence), go upstairs and we will be to your right.

We will be selling scarves, jewelry, greeting cards and some household decor ( all great Mother’s Day gifts!). See our new knitted animals from Zimbabwe – stuffies, keychains, and finger puppets.

We are sharing this sale with The St. Andrew’s Group – a women’s group from St Timothy’s who make beautiful hand knitted items. Sales from them will support the North York Women’s Shelter. As usual, our sales support the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

We’d love to see you. Please drop by.

Join Us

Are you interested in joining the Old Orchard Blossoms? We always welcome new members, grandmothers and “grand-others” – and new ideas. We meet on the second or third Monday afternoon of each month at the Church of St. Timothy, North Toronto. For more information on our group, send us a message on the Contact Us page or email us at oldorchardblossoms@gmail.com.

BECOME A FRIEND – Meetings aren’t your thing? Consider becoming a “Friend of the Old Orchard Blossoms” and volunteer during events. We will keep you posted on upcoming events and sales.