A Toronto Stylist Has Launched a Fashion-Based Fundraiser to Support Nellie’s

After hearing that incidents of domestic violence have increased drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto-based stylist Georgia Groom found herself wondering how she could help. “I have kids, and like a lot of people, I’ve been thinking about what it would be like for kids to be stuck in homes with abusers,” she says. “It’s such a terrible thought.” No stranger to advocacy in her professional life—Groom co-founded a diversity-focused workshop series with fellow stylist Vanessa Fischer in 2018—she began posting about ways her followers could assist victims of domestic abuse on her social media. Meg Watson, owner of the Toronto boutique Frances Watson, reached out to Groom about the posts and the two eventually conceived of a giveaway idea to benefit a local organization called Nellie’s, which provides housing support as well as educational assistance and outreach programs.

Thanks to the fashion and art community connections both Groom and Watson have, they’ve been able to pool together a set of very enticing giveaway prizes for those who donate $5 or more to Nellie’s (to enter, proof of your Nellie’s donation must be sent via DM to Groom’s Instagram: @georgiagroom). “We didn’t know what the response would be like,” says Groom, adding that the duo’s initial goal of $1,000 in donations has exceeded $3,000 in just two days. “People really want to help within their community, and it’s a simple way to do that,” she says.

Items available in the giveaway—which closes Sunday at 6pm EST and will be decided by a random draw—include a set of jewellery pieces by Jenny Bird; fabric masks from Pomp and Ceremony; gift cards for Frances Watson and the lingerie and swimwear brand Fortnight; sweatshirts by Model Citizen; a ‘care package’ from Likely General; Dermalogica and Davines products from Palm Sunday; a piece of art by Nancy Friedland; a copy of the literary journal, Brick; a tarot card reading by Fiends; and a mini bag by Eleven Thirty. For more information and to donate, click here.