It may not be news but
The struggle is real
It’s been a year of climbing interest rates, escalating rents, rising grocery costs.
Our neighbours have been hit especially hard. There have been so many new faces coming through our doors, and we struggle to make sure we have enough resources to meet growing demand. In the past year, we welcomed 827 new clients and total clients served were up by 25%.
Did you know that - despite many creative fundraising ideas and initiatives - we depend on donations and miscellaneous grants to keep our doors open?
And we have become pressed to draw on reserve funds to sustain a vital emergency service operating in our corner of the capital city of Canada? We need your help to close this funding gap, so we’re reaching out to our community this holiday season for support.
It’s been a year of climbing interest rates, escalating rents, rising grocery costs.
Our neighbours have been hit especially hard. There have been so many new faces coming through our doors, and we struggle to make sure we have enough resources to meet growing demand. In the past year, we welcomed 827 new clients and total clients served were up by 25%.
Did you know that - despite many creative fundraising ideas and initiatives - we depend on donations and miscellaneous grants to keep our doors open?
And we have become pressed to draw on reserve funds to sustain a vital emergency service operating in our corner of the capital city of Canada? We need your help to close this funding gap, so we’re reaching out to our community this holiday season for support.
Your donations will help ensure we cover operating expenses, such as rent & electricity (to keep those perishable goods cool) and pay our two employees. Staff are backed by dedicated volunteers who assist with welcoming neighbours every week and volunteer board members who handle a host of activities such as bookkeeping, newsletters, funding proposals, fundraising events, website & social media, social enterprise, meeting community stakeholders, and advocacy
activities that sync with our mission and goals.
We’d love any support you can provide! If time is something you can donate, we’d love to hear from you! Please send a short note with your interest to [email protected]
activities that sync with our mission and goals.
We’d love any support you can provide! If time is something you can donate, we’d love to hear from you! Please send a short note with your interest to [email protected]
We are one of the "way too many" food banks and agencies across the city (province/country that have become safety nets for those needing access to food and meals because their basic expenses outweigh income sources.
Help us put food on the table for our neighbours and stir the pot with our political leaders for better income supports for those in need.
Help us put food on the table for our neighbours and stir the pot with our political leaders for better income supports for those in need.
Our Funding Gap - and How You Can Help
Thank you donors, neighbours, volunteers and concerned citizens of Ottawa for your ongoing support of Dalhousie Food Cupboard (DFC) as we continue to help those facing food security challenges in our community.
Since you have shown such interest in the well-being of your neighbours, we wanted to share some truths about the funding challenge we are currently facing and how it came into being.
Many Ottawa-based charities and not-for-profits focused on relieving poverty are funded in part by municipal grants. These funds typically come in two forms: Renewable Sustainability Funding to help support operational costs and Project-based Funding to support innovation and creation of new services. Due to the outcome of the 2021 Community Funding program awards, Dalhousie Food Cupboard is not currently receiving a Sustainability Grant, leaving us with an operational deficit of $42K over each of the next four years. We cannot re-apply for this sustainable support again until 2025.
Along with Centretown Food Centre, who lost their renewable grant at the same time, we lobbied for reconsideration of this decision and for changes to the funding model (see HERE a letter written on our behalf last year by Councillors McKenney, Leiper and Menard).
The result of this funding gap is that we are starting to draw down critical reserve funds – money earmarked for service enhancements and other projects will instead be drained to uphold the day-to-day core services we are committed to deliver to people in need.
The food security crisis is growing, and DFC has welcomed record breaking numbers of new neighbours in the last few months. Our entire team is working hard despite the loss of City financial support. In fact, we are actively boosting fundraising efforts and exploring new partnerships to fill the space the city left - and this is where community oriented people like yourselves can help!
Donating (online HERE) is appreciated, but there are a number of other ways you could help us address our funding
Since you have shown such interest in the well-being of your neighbours, we wanted to share some truths about the funding challenge we are currently facing and how it came into being.
Many Ottawa-based charities and not-for-profits focused on relieving poverty are funded in part by municipal grants. These funds typically come in two forms: Renewable Sustainability Funding to help support operational costs and Project-based Funding to support innovation and creation of new services. Due to the outcome of the 2021 Community Funding program awards, Dalhousie Food Cupboard is not currently receiving a Sustainability Grant, leaving us with an operational deficit of $42K over each of the next four years. We cannot re-apply for this sustainable support again until 2025.
Along with Centretown Food Centre, who lost their renewable grant at the same time, we lobbied for reconsideration of this decision and for changes to the funding model (see HERE a letter written on our behalf last year by Councillors McKenney, Leiper and Menard).
The result of this funding gap is that we are starting to draw down critical reserve funds – money earmarked for service enhancements and other projects will instead be drained to uphold the day-to-day core services we are committed to deliver to people in need.
The food security crisis is growing, and DFC has welcomed record breaking numbers of new neighbours in the last few months. Our entire team is working hard despite the loss of City financial support. In fact, we are actively boosting fundraising efforts and exploring new partnerships to fill the space the city left - and this is where community oriented people like yourselves can help!
Donating (online HERE) is appreciated, but there are a number of other ways you could help us address our funding
- Become a member of our volunteer Fundraising Committee to help create events and build our social enterprise. To learn more, email [email protected]
- Join our Advocacy and Community Relations group to support lobbying and community engagement efforts. Start a conversation [email protected]
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and like/share our stuff!
- Buy some of our awesome, locally made items from hot sauce to soap HERE
Dalhousie Courtyard Gardens
The Dalhousie Food Cupboard, located at the Bronson Centre, has a thriving garden program that helps grow and tend vegetables for its clients during the gardening season. The program takes place in three courtyards hidden within the Bronson Centre, two of which are inground gardens and one that is devoted to people with mobility issues. This program is primarily for retirees, but everyone is welcome to participate.
Our garden program is inclusive of all ages and abilities, with a focus on drawing seniors (55+) into this process. We hope to host a few class field trips before the school year ends to show younger generations the value of gardening and how to grow their own food. If you're interested in investing time and energy with our gardening team, sign up for info and message alerts at [email protected]. We'd love to have you be a part of our mission to grow healthy, fresh vegetables for our clients.
Our garden program is inclusive of all ages and abilities, with a focus on drawing seniors (55+) into this process. We hope to host a few class field trips before the school year ends to show younger generations the value of gardening and how to grow their own food. If you're interested in investing time and energy with our gardening team, sign up for info and message alerts at [email protected]. We'd love to have you be a part of our mission to grow healthy, fresh vegetables for our clients.
Food Markets
Last summer, we participated in several food markets, and they were a huge success. We were thrilled to meet so many residents and share our passion for great food. This year, we hope to see even more of you as we hit the road with our grapefruit soaps and chocolates.
Our fragrant grapefruit infused soap is locally made. It contains no parabens, no SLS, no synthetic fragrances and no additives. This lathery soap is infused using real grapefruits donated to us by local brewer @btpbrewing after they are zested to make their legendary Pink Fuzz (hence the name). And if you're looking for a sweet treat, our new chocolates are sure to please. Made with high-quality ingredients and infused with grapefruit zest, they're the perfect indulgence for any chocolate lover.
Not only will you be able to indulge in our products, but you'll also be supporting a great cause. All proceeds from the sales of our grapefruit products will go directly to the Dalhousie Food Cupboard to help those in need in our community.
Follow us on our social channels for more details and come visit us at the food markets this summer. We'll be at various locations throughout the Ottawa region, so there's sure to be a market near you. We can't wait to see you and share our love of great food with you while supporting a great cause.
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more details!
Not only will you be able to indulge in our products, but you'll also be supporting a great cause. All proceeds from the sales of our grapefruit products will go directly to the Dalhousie Food Cupboard to help those in need in our community.
Follow us on our social channels for more details and come visit us at the food markets this summer. We'll be at various locations throughout the Ottawa region, so there's sure to be a market near you. We can't wait to see you and share our love of great food with you while supporting a great cause.
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more details!
Support from our Community & Funding for Ethnocultural Foods
We recently discovered that Starbucks Foundation gave us a Neighborhood Grant through the Vancouver Foundation. This money came by way of a program in place for local Starbucks staff in North American cities to nominate charities that they wanted to support. Thanks to the team at 409 Mackay Street, Ottawa for this well-timed nomination!
Last month, we received $5,000 from Ottawa Food Bank to purchase culturally appropriate foods for our clients. This will allow us to better meet the needs of our community by diversifying the types of food we offer and this is consistent with our Good Food Policy.
And we just learned that our bid with Ottawa Community Foundation to collaborate with NutritionBlocs and offer a low-cost (time-limited no-cost) ethnocultural food box program to seniors in our community was successful. More news on this as soon as we work out the details!
Thanks to each of these partners and sponsors - every dollar coming in helps when it comes to reducing food insecurity.
Last month, we received $5,000 from Ottawa Food Bank to purchase culturally appropriate foods for our clients. This will allow us to better meet the needs of our community by diversifying the types of food we offer and this is consistent with our Good Food Policy.
And we just learned that our bid with Ottawa Community Foundation to collaborate with NutritionBlocs and offer a low-cost (time-limited no-cost) ethnocultural food box program to seniors in our community was successful. More news on this as soon as we work out the details!
Thanks to each of these partners and sponsors - every dollar coming in helps when it comes to reducing food insecurity.
Stay Informed
Looking to stay in the loop with everything happening at Dalhousie Food Cupboard? Connect with us on social media and never miss a beat!
Our social media channels are a great way to stay connected with our community and learn more about the work we do at the Dalhousie Food Cupboard. Plus, it's a great way to engage with us and share your own experiences or ideas.
Do you have any feedback or comments that we should hear about? Please email [email protected] to let us know of your suggestions.
Looking to stay in the loop with everything happening at Dalhousie Food Cupboard? Connect with us on social media and never miss a beat!
Our social media channels are a great way to stay connected with our community and learn more about the work we do at the Dalhousie Food Cupboard. Plus, it's a great way to engage with us and share your own experiences or ideas.
Do you have any feedback or comments that we should hear about? Please email [email protected] to let us know of your suggestions.