Each year we find a local organization that the clinic can donate to. We love our city and want to give back to the community.
This year we have decided to adopt a family through Family Children Services. Many smaller charities do not have a large marketing funding pot, so we did some research to some of the smaller organizations making a big difference! Of course it is not limited to the list we have put together, but we tried to hit the 3 large subgroups, people, animals and plants and as local as we could get. Two resources we found useful while looking for charities that use majority of your donations to the cause were Charity Intelligence Canada and Canada Helps
We encourage you to do the same this year. Most of us don't need more stuff, but we do need to help the less fortunate, the ones without a voice and our planet.
People
If you haven't heard of HopeSprings, it is an organization who works with individuals diagnosed with cancer. They work on improving the individual's life emotionally, physically and spiritually during such a devastating time. Here you can find a safe space with information and support to help you work through it.
Each year, HopeSpring's Cancer Care Coach, Anne, provides over 450 hours of 1 on 1 cancer care coaching sessions to their members. This service is free of charge to the recipients. The sessions provide valuable tools and coping strategies to those affected by cancer in Waterloo Region.
This year, consider donating to Hopesprings and help support their work along with the 1 on 1 coaching sessions. Visit their website to find out other ways you can get involved year round.
A place to gather, learn and grow. The library accepts donations which gets put towards funding priority needs not covered by your tax dollars and make a difference for everyone coming through the doors of the library.
You can also donate your time to the library. At Kitchener Public Library, they have 554 volunteers who generously donate 11,000 hours each year and participate in over 25 different opportunities!
The volunteers take books to at-home readers, run English Conversation Circles, read with young children, tutor students, assist with programs, offer well-maintained book collections, provide résumé coaching, tune instruments, and give much needed assistance.
Every day, they play a vital role in welcoming our community to engaging spaces where people connect, ideas flourish and lives are transformed.
To learn more about our volunteer program, visit their website
Lutherwood is a progressive, not-for-profit health and social service organization that strengthens people's lives by providing mental health, employment and housing services to more than 14,000 people annually in Waterloo Region and Wellington County.
Since 1905, the YW has provided essential programs for women and families. Today, we provide programs in the areas of early learning and childcare, homelessness and housing, girls’ recreation and leadership, and employment training, and we speak out on issues affecting women and families. The YW is a community-based, charitable organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. We are a member association of YWCA Canada, the largest women's multi-service organization in Canada. Through YWCA Canada, we are a member of World YWCA, the oldest and largest women’s rights organization in the world.
Monica Place is a registered charity that provides support to pregnant and parenting youth.
Their vision is to collaborate with the community where pregnant and parenting youth are safe, supported and valued.
Located in Waterloo, this non-profit organization provides services such as the Chaplaincy Program, Childminding Program, Circle of Security, Counselling, Parent and Child Residential Program, Prenatal Health Program, Prenatal Parenting Program and much more.
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region operates two emergency shelters for abused women and their children: Anselma House in Kitchener and Haven House in Cambridge. They also operate a regional Outreach Program. Being the only agency of their kind in Waterloo Region, your help is greatly appreciated and needed. They strive to help empower women to move beyond abusive and violent relationships. For their health and the wellness of their children.
This is another organization that could use volunteers. There are opportunities for everyone from high school to professionals who have the hours to give. Visit their website for more information.
Though not exactly a local charity, this is an organization that was recently brought to our attention. Sleeping Children Around the World is a 100% charitable organization that
Each $35 donation provides a bedkit that consists of a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net, clothes outfit, towel and school supplies. Bedkit contents vary from country to country depending on local needs. Bedkits are manufactured or purchased overseas, and assembled in the country of distribution to not just eliminate shipping costs but to stimulate the local economy.
The bedkits are also distributed by volunteers who travel overseas and donate their time and expertise to the cause.
provides bedkits to children in developing countries.
Sanguen is a not-for-profit, community-based health care agency. Sanguen provides education to everyone. Understanding drug use and creating an inclusive community is really difficult if we’re uncomfortable talking about drugs and harm reduction. Sanguen’s team provides educational workshops and presentations on a variety of topics - including harm reduction, substance use, hepatitis C, overdose prevention, naloxone/narcan and many other issues that may impact people who use drugs. All the presentations are focused on what is happening in our community and includes resources.
It can be difficult for people to access reliable information, support and medical care - for a lot of different reasons. Sanguen dedicated Outreach Workers, but the entire team also provides service in addition to outreach at their clinic and community spaces!
A volunteer-based LGBTQ+ community venue that is sustainable, supportive, positive and a safe space for people of all ages in Waterloo Region. SPECTRUM is Waterloo Region’s first LGBTQ+/Rainbow Community Space providing information services including events, resource directory, library (books & film), history, survey/map of gender-neutral washrooms. Support groups for transfolk, older adults, relatives & friends, immigrants, refugees and newcomers. Recreational and social including games, crafting, hiking, reading circle and more! SPECTRUM will work together with allies to ensure a strong and inclusive community.
oneROOF Youth Services is committed to providing for the safety, support and overall well-being of youth who are experiencing homelessness, and youth who are at-risk of homelessness aged 12-25 in Waterloo Region. oneROOF provides hot meals, food hampers, clothing, hygiene products and advocacy to youth who frequent their services. oneROOF Youth Services provides youth with the opportunity to acquire life skills training, anger management workshops, recreation and sports opportunities, crisis counselling, family mediation, substance abuse education/referral/treatment/aftercare, emergency shelter and more.
Many children and youth in Waterloo Region struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives like detrimental living conditions, family violence, risk factors for mental health, school issues and identity challenges. These circumstances have nothing to do with the value of who they are or who they can become, but because of these situations, children and youth risk not having the opportunity to live up to their full potential. Even worse is the possibility of continuing cycles of poverty and crime or developing mental health issues.
This comes at a cost to the young person, and to society. With the guidance and support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided, and youth are reminded they can be anything they dream of being.
CMHA provides a full care system for those with addictions, mental health or developmental needs. Serving everyone from children to adults to seniors, all under one roof. CMHA has programs to help individuals and families to lead lives filled with meaning and promise. CMHA works to build a community in which everyone has what they need to live meaningful lives. Building human connections that make it possible for people to achieve their greatest potential. CMHA inspires and supports people in achieving the quality of life they desire.
Animals
Grand River All Breed Rescue is a foster-based animal rescue group based in Cambridge, Ontario. They do not operate a shelter – the animals in our program live in home environments with foster owners until they are adopted to a permanent family.
Grand River All Breed Animal Rescue has many roles from rescue animals from humane societies, help temporarily foster animals, help with people in crisis keep their pets and trap/neuter and release feral cats.
They are in need of any financial or item donation! No donation is too small or too big. If you are interested in buying items, they also have a wish list.
Their mission is to provide re-homing and medical care to displaced companion animals and to support the community in areas of humane education, behaviour counseling, the promotion of responsible pet ownership, and the needs of animals.
TAGS is a charitable non-profit organization and does not receive any government funding. We are entirely reliant on public donations for funds. Other than monetary donations, TAGS needs other pet care items like good quality dog food, dog beds and blankets, leashes and collars, winter coats, dog toys, etc. We also need other items like building materials and services.
How We Use Your Money
100% of your donations goes to helping the animals in our program as we have no paid staff. TAGS’s largest expense by far is the veterinary bills. We want to be sure that all our dogs are healthy, and sometimes this means expensive medications or surgeries that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. In addition, all TAGS dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped prior to adoption. While TAGS is fortunate to receive some donations of dog food, we also spend money purchasing quality dog food to feed to our dogs in foster care. Other expenses include the production of training, educational and promotional material.
Pet Patrol is an entirely volunteer-run, non-profit organization in the Waterloo Region area. They began in 1996 in recognition of the overpopulation problem of felines in our community. Giving cats a second chance and an opportunity for a full life as they are a NO KILL rescue. Pet Patrol helps cats that have been abandoned, ill or homeless, to find new homes.
Pet Patrol also help feral cats with their TNR (Trap Neuter Return) Program, colony feeding programs and helping to find hobby farms for the less socialized cats so they can roam freely but will still receive annual vet care, daily food and water and a warm, dry place to sleep.
Located in Puslinch on a 100 acres you will find the Donkey Sanctuary. Where they provide a lifelong home for donkeys, mules and hinnies who are unwanted, neglected, abused, or whose owners can no longer care for them. They promote the responsible stewardship of all animals through humane education.
The Sanctuary is a working farm and to keep the cost down (and all profits going towards the animals) they only have a few staff members.
There is always a lot of work tending to the animals, giving medication and cleaning barnyards. If you are interested in being a hands-on volunteer, you need to visit their website to find the next orientation session. This is a 1 day training course that is required in order to volunteer with the animals.
You can also do non- animal related events that require volunteers such as their Open Days event.
We have heard of them and maybe even seen some of their heart wrenching commercials but did you know you can donate and get the perfect gift!? You can adopt and animal, receive information on that animal, a certificate and a stuffed animal. They also have the new 'Wild Card' option where more money goes towards the animals and you receive a wildlife card only.
By symbolically adopting a specie, you will help conserve wildlife and the future of our plant for generation. There is over 30 different species to choose from that you are bound to find the perfect match for the special person on your list.
EVAH is a Humane Alliance-partnered ‘High Volume Spay/Neuter Clinic’ dedicated to providing comprehensive preventive medicine services, including spay/neuter/vaccination/microchipping/anti-parasite treatments, as well as general out-patient medical and surgical services for pets cared for by low-income individuals, those on social assistance, animal rescue groups, humane societies and municipal shelters in a 12 county region surrounding Kitchener and London.
Plants
Seeds of Diversity Canada is a non-profit network of gardeners and farmers, promoting biodiversity of food crops through conservation, documentation, and use of open-pollinated plants. Their mission is to teach and encourage seed-saving of vegetables, fruits, and grains suitable for the diverse climates of Canada.
The community gardens in Waterloo Region are part of the Waterloo Region Community Gardening Network. The Network is composed of garden organizers, gardeners and representatives from community agencies that promote healthy and inclusive communities.
The Ministry of Education sees school gardens as a tool for promoting well-being.
Learn more about Gardens for Healthy Schools from a recent scan of school gardens in Waterloo Region.
Rare Charitable Research Reserve is an urban land trust and environmental institute in Waterloo Region. Their first four locations are protecting almost 1000 acres of highly sensitive land.
Rare works with their team and members of the community to discover the most inclusive practice and find answers to environmental issues for ecological integrity and future generations. Their emphasis is on education and engagement of the community.
The research informs restoration practices and educational programs through Chain of Learning that is geared towards young learners in a program called Every Child Outdoors (ECO). This model promotes active, hands-on, problem- based environmental learning in the great outdoors.
Visit Rare's website for more information on how you can participate
Their mission has been to deliver cost-effective programs and services based on leading-edge business and technology skills that will conserve energy, reduce water usage, optimize resource use, promote recycling and creative re-using, and minimize waste.
As land development increases we loose some of our tree canopies. Neighbourwoods is a branch of the Elora Environment Centre, and a registered Canadian charity, working to rebuild the community tree canopy through tree planting, stewardship, public education and advocacy about the need for, and value of trees.
As a non-profit organization we can offer independent and unbiased advice with a clear dedication and commitment to the environment.
The holidays are a time of year that we need to remember to be charitable to the ones without a voice and less fortunate than we are.
Let this holiday season inspire you to make it the year of change. Try donating or volunteering at one of a few of these organizations. They are making a big difference in our community and always welcome help.
'Tis the season of giving !
Love, The Coach House Team
