SHORE Centre donations jump thanks to Trump's election win

As Caroline Dutka watched the American election results roll in last November, she says her heart broke for women in the United States.

"I knew defunding Planned Parenthood was one of his main agenda items – or at least one that spoke to me a lot," Dutka said of Donald Trump's campaign to be president.

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After Trump was declared the winner, Dutka said she felt an urge to do something to help women here in her own community.

"I didn't want sit and do nothing about it. I wanted to channel that pain and anger into something more productive," she said.

She went online and searched for groups in the area and read about what they do and how she could help.

That's how she discovered the SHORE Centre.

Formerly known as Planned Parenthood, the SHORE Centre – SHORE stands for sexual health options resources and education – helps residents with sexual health education and parent options support.

Dutka said a few days after the election, she signed up to volunteer there. Now, she works the front desk once a week, greeting clients.

"I feel like it's a really important of my week, if not the most important part, just to be there for women," she said.

Donations, volunteers jump after Trump win

Others have felt the same need to do something to help women in their own communities, even though Trump's election was south of the border.

Lyndsey Butcher, executive director of the SHORE Centre, said during their fundraising campaign in November and December, they saw a 37 per cent increase in 2016 over 2015. Usually the centre raises between $35,000 and $40,000, and in 2016 they raised $52,000 over last year's $38,000. 

Some people are telling centre staff they are making a donation or volunteering for a specific reason.

A note on a donation sent Friday, Trump's inauguration day, said: "This is my act of resistance for the day."

The money raised will go towards the pregnancy options support program – a program that does not get a lot of direct donations.

She said she anticipates the centre will continue to see people wanting to volunteer and donate will continue in the near future.

"I think the attacks against choice are going to be throughout Trump's presidency and people are going to want to take a stand and show that they are resisting these threats to choice," Butcher said.

'Easy to feel really apathetic'

Along with resisting threats, Dutka said she never wants to take women's rights for granted.

The Waterloo woman lived in Ireland last year where abortion is illegal unless it is medically necessary – women who want to have the procedure need to go to England. She said it reminded her how important it is for herself to have the choice to decide what to do with her own body, should she ever find herself in that position.

"I want to actively cherish that right," she said.

Dutka encouraged other people to also get involved with local social groups if they feel a bit lost.

"My advice would be to try and channel that energy into something productive," she said. "It's easy to feel really apathetic in times like these."