519 Community Collective

This National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’re shining a light on the heart of the 519 Community Collective — our volunteers 💛

Your generosity, dedication, and willingness to show up make everything we do possible. From the visible moments to the quiet, behind-the-scenes efforts, your impact reaches further than you may ever realize.

Because of you, our community is stronger, more connected, and filled with kindness.

We are deeply grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for being the difference.

519 Community Collective

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We truly can’t say enough about our Sandwich Program and the incredible volunteers who make it possible week after week.

Every sandwich is made with time, effort, and genuine care—and it shows. On an average week, we prepare and distribute up to 600 sandwiches, and at times, we’ve reached as many as 1,200. These go out across the region—to encampments, hidden alleyways, and places many may never see, but where support is deeply needed.

This program reaches far beyond just sandwiches. It connects with our community fridge, emergency hampers, outreach efforts, and so much more. Wherever there’s a need, we do our best to meet it.
None of this is easy. It takes consistent donations, supplies, and funding to keep this program going. We are so grateful to everyone who continues to support us month after month—you are the reason this work continues. For many, this program is essential. Without it, some individuals simply would not eat, and that’s something we are committed to preventing.

A sandwich may seem small, but to someone in need, it can mean everything. And when it’s paired with a bottle of water, a snack, a warm smile, a hug, or a listening ear—you are a part of that moment too.

Thank you for standing with us and supporting not just this program, but all that we do.
If you’re interested in getting involved, we’d love to have you join us. Reach out at [email protected] and connect with Sadia, our Volunteer Coordinator, to learn more.

💜💙🧡

519 Community Collective

Email [email protected] to get involved.

We are so incredibly grateful to Second Harvest for their continued support of our programs. Through their partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart, we receive amazing donations every single week from multiple locations—and it truly makes a difference.

This week, we want to give a special shoutout to the Fairway Road Shoppers Drug Mart for their consistent support every Wednesday. Their generous contributions help fuel so many of our initiatives. Some weeks it’s one box, other weeks it’s eight—we never quite know what to expect, and that surprise always brings a sense of excitement and gratitude.

These donations directly support our New Beginnings Program, community pantries, community fridge, hamper program, as well as our outreach programs and kitchens. Most importantly, they bring relief, dignity, and care to everyone who receives them.

Thank you to Shoppers Drug Mart and Second Harvest for being such incredible partners in this work. We truly couldn’t do it without you 💜💙🧡

519 Community Collective

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This week, we had an incredible opportunity to provide support through our various programs. One of the highlights was a generous and impactful donation from the Pillars Manufacturing Plant.

We received vacuum-sealed packages of salami, turkey breast, bolognese, and other items, which we were able to distribute to 74 individuals. These were shared across five different locations through small, last-minute pop-up distributions throughout downtown Kitchener.

We are deeply grateful for this partnership and for the support it brings to our Sandwich Program, the Cambridge Kitchen, IPC Kitchen, and several of our other initiatives. We truly couldn’t do this work without support like this.

It was heartwarming to see the appreciation from everyone who received two packages each yesterday. Moments like these remind us what a meaningful difference community support can make.

We hope to offer opportunities like this again from time to time. We’ll also do our best to bring similar distributions to Cambridge, alongside our regular Thursday and Sunday meal kitchen offerings when extra supplies are available.

Take care, everyone, and thank you so much for your continued support of this program. 💜💙🧡

519 Community Collective

Join our page 519 Community Collective

Did you know that every year we help support hundreds of families into a new beginning?

Whether someone is moving off the streets, out of a shelter or encampment, leaving a domestic violence situation, or recovering from an emergency like a fire or flood—we never truly know what someone is facing. What we do know is this: we meet every situation with compassion, not judgment.

Through our New Beginnings Program, individuals reach out to us when they’re ready to start over. From there, our dedicated volunteers connect with them and walk alongside them every step of the way. This program has been built with years of care, and we are so proud of the impact it continues to make.

Starting over is not easy. Many individuals leave shelters with only the bare minimum. Suddenly, they need everything—towels, bedding, pillows, cleaning supplies, toiletries, food, and even small furniture and household items. It can feel overwhelming and, at times, discouraging.

That’s where this program steps in.
By providing up to $1,500 or more in donated essential items, we help ease that burden so individuals and families can focus their limited resources on rent, utilities, and other necessary expenses. Every single donation goes directly to someone who truly needs it.

While we don’t always share specific stories to protect the privacy of those we serve, please know that lives are being changed every single day behind the scenes.

A special thank you to Jen, Andrea, and all of the incredible volunteers who work tirelessly to make this program possible. Your compassion and dedication do not go unnoticed.

If you’re looking for a way to give back, consider going through your home this spring. Dishes, pots, pans, cutlery, household items—these everyday things can mean everything to someone starting over. And if you’re unsure, just reach out. The worst we can say is no.

Thank you for your continued generosity and for supporting not just this program, but all that we do. We truly couldn’t do it without you 💛

519 Community Collective

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Just wanted to take a moment to give a heartfelt shoutout to our incredible donors. Your ongoing contributions of blankets, clothing, and essential items truly make a difference.

We recently received a request from a local transitional living shelter here in Waterloo, and thanks to your generosity, we were able to gather a full SUV load of much-needed items. The response from both staff and residents was overwhelming—they were so grateful and genuinely touched.

Because of you, we’re able to continue supporting hundreds of individuals every single month through our programs. Your kindness doesn’t go unnoticed, and it creates real impact in our community.

Thank you for being part of this. 💛

519 Community Collective

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We are beyond grateful to everyone who made our bottle drive for the 519 Community Collective such a success! Huge thanks to all our volunteers, donors, and especially the Beer Stores who helped facilitate this event.

Your support is making a real impact in our community!

Here are the highlights by location:

Cambridge: 3 volunteers, 20 donors
Cash: $35.00
Bottle Drive: $155.70
Total: $190.70

Kitchener: 2 volunteers, 8 donors
Cash: $5.00
EMT: $35.00
Bottle Drive: $90.00
Total: $130.00

Waterloo: 4 volunteers, 14 donors
Cash: $74.20
Bottle Drive: $76.80
Total: $151.00

Grand Total: $471.70

Thank you for coming together and making a difference!

Every dollar and every volunteer hour counts, and together, we’re creating positive change in our community!

Saturday Donation Drop Off. We will be open for donation drop offs @ 54 Benton St in Kitchener Saturday March 21st • 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Please note that the Chandos location is no longer open for random donation drop offs. We are looking to restock our mobile hamper trailer with non perishable food items. We are in need of cases of water bottles, individual wrapped snacks, reusable bags - plastic - paper - cloth. We are also in need of sleeping bags, blankets, tarps and tents. We are also collecting toiletry items, adult winter coats, winter boots, hoodies, hats and gloves in good clean condition. If you are thinking of becoming a volunteer and want to learn more please drop by and have a chat with our volunteers. We are a registered charity that relies on the community for support.
https://www.canadahelps.org/.../519-community-collective/

Everyone is welcome to attend. If you would like to help with the cost of this meal or make a donation to the Cambridge Nourish Kitchen your financial support would be very much appreciated.

Please mark your donation Cambridge Kitchen.

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/519-community-collective/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQlpgtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFxSXpnMHB5UXYyVnBTR0g4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvLLg7IUcrsAxdnCVsaSw9BFeuGHvDJOTjqkMET2JCh0iltBTvI5LVMj-x5r_aem_nABgqekTzcfURHn7wjm3aw