Since 2000, CanadaHelps has been serving donors and charities by providing a safe, easy-to-use, and affordable online donation and fundraising platform. CanadaHelps plays a critical role in the charitable sector by serving small to medium-sized charities.

We provide online technology and fundraising tools at low, non-commercial rates – tools that many charities don’t have the resources to invest in on their own. This levels the playing field between charities of all sizes, ensuring smaller charities don’t fall behind.

The stories of the many charities we serve are as inspiring as they are diverse. From food banks and community agriculture programs, to health organizations and social services, to community foundations, arts organizations, hospices, animal protection, international aid organizations, or local places of worship; we serve and love them all. Most of the charities we serve are small, but are filling critical gaps in our communities and addressing societal needs — sometimes in a 100% volunteer capacity or on an incredibly lean budget.

They are small charities, but they have tremendous impact.

At CanadaHelps, we are always trying to find ways to shed light on these small charities and their vital work. From initiatives like GivingTuesday and the Great Canadian Giving Challenge, to blog series focusing on environmental charities and social innovation, we are always providing opportunities for Canadians to discover small charities and learn about the important work they do. Our most recent initiative, our FIGHT HUNGER campaign, does exactly this.

October is World Hunger Action month, and this October we are shedding light on Canadian charities working to fight hunger. Hunger is largely fought community by community. There are many charities working to fight hunger in Canada from coast to coast, and we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight these charities. These charities are fighting hunger in innovative and unique ways – through community gardens in unusual locations, traveling food markets, community kitchens, food education programs and revenue generating social enterprises.

Throughout the month of October, I encourage you to browse FIGHT HUNGER campaigns, which have been set up by charities on CanadaHelps. These charities are using passion and innovation to drive change, and fight hunger on the local, national and international level.

Here, are just a few examples:

The Stop Community Food Centre

The Stop is a Toronto-based charity that strives to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds health and community, and challenges inequality. Last year alone, The Stop distributed 10,000 healthy food hampers and served more than 62,000 delicious and nutritious Drop-in meals.

FEED NOVA SCOTIA

A Halifax based charity with a mission to feed Nova Scotians in need, and to reduce the number of those needing food services. FEED NOVA SCOTIA distributes over 2 million kilograms of donated food to their member network of 146 food banks and meal programs across the province.

Edmonton’s Food Bank

Each month, more than 15,000 people receive food hampers from Edmonton’s Food Bank. They work collaboratively with more than 210 agencies, churches and food depots throughout Edmonton.

NDG Food Depot

The NDG Food Depot is a community-based non-profit organization that works collaboratively with other community partners to address issues of food security in the community. Their activities are based on the holistic approach that “Everything is Nourishment”. This includes having healthy food, authentic relationships and opportunities for meaningful engagement and personal development.

Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids (BB4CK)

The mission of BB4CK is to work with Calgary schools to identify children who are hungry, and to find ways to feed them. They provide about 2,000 lunches daily. Each lunch costs only about $1 to make.

 

When I look at these charities, and all the others working to fight hunger, I am so inspired and reminded of the vital work small and medium-sized charities do. I invite you this month, to join these amazing charities in their work to fight hunger.

To browse the over 600 food service charities on CanadaHelps, click here. 

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Updated on November 1, 2024