Amidst these difficult times, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some amazing Charities and Not For Profit member organizations that could use the support of our community. We will share their updates/needs in one centralized location. If you are a Charitable Organization or Not-For-Profit that is a Chamber Member and you wish to be featured on this page, please fill out this form.
Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington
Our offices are closed to the public util further notice, but programs and services are still be offered through zoom and other platforms as well as by phone. Phone messages are checked daily. Stay tuned for information on new dates for our Winter Warmer event and our IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region
Our head office is currently but we can be reached by email or phone. In these difficult times we are working to serve the children and their families in our programs. We continue to find ways to allow the Mentors and Mentees to connect with one another online.
We are asking that anyone who can donate, please book an appointment to do so. You need an appointment to donate so we can further regulate donors etc, please if you are healthy, come and donate at our permanent location in Waterloo today. Our address is 94 Bridgeport Rd E.
Canadian Council On Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)
CCRW supports local businesses and their hiring needs by connecting them with talented candidates. Check them out and learn more about the services and funding that they provide.
Carizon Family and Community Services
Carizon is a mental health and wellbeing agency that serves families throughout Waterloo Region. We have particular expertise in children’s mental health, counselling services, prevention/early intervention supports, newcomers and domestic violence. Carizon is also the centralized access point for counselling services for the Counselling Collaborative of Waterloo Region.
Please go to our website to view information resources provided by family business stakeholders and sponsors. This information is targeted towards family businesses but also has relevance for any business in the Waterloo region.
CWC provides support, education and advocacy for children and youth under the age of 18 in Waterloo Region, Guelph and Wellington County who are or may become victims or witnesses of abuse or crime. Our vision is community where children and youth are safe, valued and heard, empowering them towards strong futures. As we only receive a percentage of our funding through government sources, we rely on the generosity of our communities to help us provide the advocacy and support that we do. Please consider donating. Children and youth deserve to feel informed, involved and supported.
CJI’s office is currently closed. Our services are being offered virtually and by telephone where possible. Please go to www.cjiwr.com/about-us to find the contact information of the staff person you wish to connect with. We look forward to seeing you again when it is safe to do so! General inquiries can be directed to info@cjiwr.com. Most staff work regular business hours (8:30 – 4:30) but it is possible to arrange for service outside of these times if needed.
As we continue to deliver Meals on Wheels to older adults and people with disabilities, many of our dedicated volunteers who are seniors themselves are unable to deliver at this time due to their own underlying medical conditions, or because they are staying at home to self-isolate to protect a loved one. We need businesses or people who would normally be working to apply to volunteer with us to get food out to the people who helped build our community into what it is today. Volunteers can apply online at our website, and will complete a telephone screening with video training provided to deliver meals under our new no-contact protocols. Mileage is reimbursed. We have most staff working from home and are redeploying staff to provide service differently.
Grand River Hospital Foundation
RH is currently looking for donation of PPE items, donation of services (specifically in trades) as well as donation of funds to help support the purchase of PPE and equipment related to fighting COVID-19. Donate to their COVID-19 Support & Readiness fund online.
We have modified our service delivery for several programs. We are also hiring more staff for our Shelter, as we have increased needs to help support social distancing among shelter participants. We are still providing Emergency Food Hampers, Neighbourhood Food Distribution, and Family Outreach and Addiction Counselling (albeit by phone) to residents in need. If you need assistance, please call 519-742-8327.
Immigration Partnership – Immigration Waterloo Region
The Immigration Partnership of Waterloo Region is working remotely to support businesses and organizations that employ or serve immigrants. Staff can be contacted by phone and email. We just launched a webpage dedicated to COVID-19 and immigration, with information for immigrants, immigration serving organizations and others. General inquires can be sent to ImmigrationPartnership@regionofwaterloo.ca
Although we may have closed our doors and are practicing social distancing, KidsAbility’s staff are working remotely and supporting families in new ways through virtual appointments, workshops, coaching sessions and more. Please continue to reach out to us to let us know how we can support you and your child during this time. View their COVID-19 update here.
Kiwanis Club of Kitchener-Waterloo
Our Club has put meetings and events on hold, including cancelling the KW Kiwanis Music Festival. Hoping to hold “non-contact” Club elections in April.
We have cancelled all of our face to face counselling, groups, and events, but we are still offering counselling via phone and video. Having had to cancel a major fundraising event, we would be most grateful for any financial support the community can provide. Donations can be made online.
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates)
MEDA has implemented a Work from Home protocol for all of our staff, with domestic and international travel suspended. Our mission of creating business solution to poverty continues! Please sign up for updates on our work and good news stories in this unprecedented time on our website. As people decrease their movements and change their buying habits, this impacts businesses. We encourage everyone to shop locally whenever safe and possible. We support entrepreneurs around the world and your donation to MEDA will directly support training, access to finance, and women’s economic empowerment.
Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support – MCRS
MCRS is open to ensure housing and food security for refugee claimants. Donations at mcrs.ca/donate are needed as their undetermined status excludes them from most COVID-19 help. Check out their Facebook page here.
Monica Place is working hard to provide ongoing support to high risk pregnant and parenting young women in our community. We continue to operate our two facilities in Cambridge and Waterloo and support our young women in the community remotely. We welcome financial donations or supplies including formula, diapers and toys.
We have partnered with Neruda Arts to run a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign in order to raise emergency funds for local artists who are in need. We will be releasing half of the funds now and will put out another call for applications to release the second half.
In response to COVID 19 on our school community who cannot access student nutrition at schools while they are closed Nutrition for Learning has responded by delivering food to various school locations in Waterloo Region to ensure students can continue to be able to access essential nutritious snacks and food items while schools are closed. We could use help sharing daily the locations on website of the POP UP SNACKS and fundraising support for our programs. Learn more about the pop-up snacks initiative.
Office of Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament
Our office is closed, however, we are still available to our constituents by phone (519-571-5509) or by email. We will be happy to answer questions about the federal government’s supports for those affected by the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.
Due to Covid-19, our doors remain open 24/7 to our shelter cohort only and we continue to provide food, shelter, medical care and support to this group. Staff are working 12 hour shifts with the same co-workers /shift. Unfortunately, our other programs, those that included youth who were housed but in need; those who were precariously housed; and those who were struggling with other issues while housed cannot be served at this time. We are encouraging them to self-isolate in their current home situations during this pandemic. Due to Covid-19 protocols we are not currently accepting donations on the wish list located on our website. Monetary donations are needed. Thank you for doing your part, as we continue to do ours.
Parents for Community Living has had to suspend operations of our respite program and day program services. This affects approximately 100 families who need our support at this very difficult time. We would love to share gift cards for restaurants, grocery stores, take out services etc. If local businesses would like to help these families with this gift, we can distribute them to those most in need. PCL’s main office is operating with just one-two staff persons at a time. Office hours 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday.
rare Charitable Research Reserve
At rare, offices and facilities are closed, but staff and volunteers continue to work remotely. Please continue your support by making a donation to protect nature. A message from our Executive Director can be found here. To keep in touch, contact rare@raresites.org.
Social Venture Partners Waterloo Region
We’ve created the SVP Emergency Fund to provide unrestricted funding to local charities affected by COVID-19. SVP is working with other funders to share knowledge & ensure resources are shared where needed most. “As charities in Waterloo Region encounter substantial increases in demand due to this crisis, SVPWR wanted to think outside the box when it comes to supporting them. This fund will do exactly that. SVPWR staff and Partners are ready to work together to catalyze change in our broader community.” – Rose Greensides, SVPWR Executive Director.
Visit https://www.sustainablewaterlooregion.ca/ for information on programs and news.
We are your one-stop resource for your questions or concerns about arthritis. In times of uncertainty, know that anyone with arthritis can benefit from the expert online resources we have developed including COVID-19 information and expert webinars on keeping you healthy. We are here for you. View the COVID-19 and Arthritis resources page here. Their staff is currently working remotely, and can be reached at 519-743-4141 ext. 1101.
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
In response to COVID-19, The Food Bank has adjusting our operations and activated the Community Food Assistance Network Pandemic Business Continuity Plan, ensuring the continuation of essential services offered in the community while minimizing health risks. View the full list of programs here. Updates to our COVID-19 response are updated regularly here.
The Sunshine Foundation of Canada
Dreamers are still dreaming. We have 50 dreams coming true this year and work continues to plan dreams experiences for kids living with severe physical disabilities that can be fulfilled during a pandemic such as adapted bikes, technology to connect with their friends and improve communication, and more. The Sunshine Foundation of Canada does not receive any united way or government grants to raise our funds in a typical year, please consider a donation.
United Way Waterloo Region Communities
We have created the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. We wish to inform the public as broadly and quickly as possible in order to solicit donations that will support front-line organizations dealing with the current crisis. Launched on Monday, March 16, 2020, the COVID-19 Community Response Fund will support the work of front-line organizations that are collectively striving to ensure our most vulnerable citizens are safe and healthy.
We love all the resources for businesses that we’ve been seeing from your newsletters, Small Business Centre, Ontario BIA Association and have been adding those to our website. Our main message is to support local in whatever ways possible during this time. We’ve written a blog including suggestions of how that can be done and have a page on our site listing current business operations (which are open/closed, offering curbside pickup/takeout etc.) . If these can be shared on your channels, that would be awesome!
The offices of Waterloo Minor Soccer Club will be closed to the public starting immediately during this period but staff will be available through email to assist where necessary. This suspension of all club soccer programming and training for the entire month of April is intended to protect the health of children and families of Waterloo United. WMSC will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic situation and wait for additional direction from Public Health when considering our next steps. 2020 Outdoor Recreational Soccer and 2020 Summer Skills Camp are still open for registration.
