KidsAbility
KidsAbility supports over 17,000 children and youth with disabilities to thrive through pediatric rehabilitation across Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington. With a vision to create a network of care, KidsAbility is a leader in delivering a wide and diverse range of specialized rehabilitation services and programs, many of which cannot be found elsewhere in the region. Fueled by a passion to foster possibilities for the children, youth, and families served by KidsAbility, KidsAbility Foundation inspires community philanthropic support for life-changing pediatric therapy, programs and services, and innovative research and technology to create a future filled with hope and opportunity. Learn more about KidsAbility.
They support children and youth from birth to age 21 to navigate the entire journey from childhood to adulthood, irrespective of diagnosis.
- Assess, diagnose, and provide clinical treatment, specialized programs and therapies, and specialized equipment and resources for children and youth with communication, physical or developmental needs;
- Provide access to clinical expertise, consultation and support for families;
- Build capacity in the community through information, knowledge exchange and consultation with professionals and other organizations;
- Participate in research activities in children’s rehabilitation.
Fueled by a passion to foster possibilities for children, youth and families, KidsAbility Foundation inspires community philanthropic support for life-changing pediatric therapy, programs and services, and innovative research and technology to create a future filled with hope and opportunity. Because the need in our community continues to grow, every gift made to KidsAbility will be DOUBLED up to $10,000! Have twice the impact on children and youth right here in our community who need specialized programs and support to thrive! Matching gift offer ends June 30th. Show your support today. Click here to learn more.
Chalmers
Chalmers Community Service Centre has been a charitable organization in Guelph since 1997. Chalmers provides fresh and canned food, hygiene products, diapers and pet food to food insecure individuals and families. Through three food distributions a week, in 2024, they distributed 21,249 food baskets. Fifty-seven percent of their guests are children. They also host drop in cafés on Mondays and Tuesdays when guests have a hot coffee, breakfast and socialize with their volunteers and the other guests. In 2024, they served 1060 guests. With seventy-five volunteers and 5 part-time staff, they are a small charity with a big heart. Their vision is a community, without poverty, where people flourish with dignity and respect. For more information, email [email protected].
Chalmers is having an Open House on Tuesday May 6 from 5-7 pm at 41 Macdonell. See how Chalmers helps to feed food insecure individuals and families in Guelph. Meet some of their Chalmers guests who will share their experiences and how Chalmers has impacted their lives. Talk with their dedicated team of volunteers and staff and view their operations.
Give the Gift of Hope
Their Spring 2025 Campaign is “Give the Gift of Hope” and begins on May 6. One of their goals is 100 new monthly donors. They are inviting donors to either support Chalmers with a one-time donation or consider becoming a monthly donor. Monthly donors will help them ensure guests at their three weekly food pantries continue to choose from a nutritionally balanced array of foods. Thirty dollars purchases one food basket for an individual. Fifty dollars could sponsor a morning café. A donation of any amount will help support their very important work at Chalmers. Your support will help them meet the growing needs of our community and most importantly, will give their guests hope.
Royal Reach
Royal Reach, proudly presented by Coldwell Banker Neumann Real Estate, is a Guelph-based philanthropic initiative dedicated to empowering the next generation of community leaders through its annual gala, “Party with a Purpose.” Each year, the event supports a different local charity, fostering awareness, volunteerism, and financial contributions. In 2025, Royal Reach is partnering with KidsAbility to support the launch of Project ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Teachers), an evidence-based program designed for families awaiting Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments. This initiative aims to equip parents with effective communication strategies to support their children’s development during the critical waiting period. The 2025 gala is scheduled for June 14th at Cutten Fields, with proceeds directly benefiting this impactful program.
Project ImPACT
Do you want to give back to the community while supporting their 2025 charity partner KidsAbility? Royal Reach is seeking donations for their silent auction and we need they help! These donations will help them raise funds for new KidsAbility program called Project ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) for families waiting on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessment list. Interested in supporting? Donating to their auction is a great opportunity to promote your business while giving back to a local charity! Email them at [email protected] to support.
Wyndham House
Wyndham House is committed to empowering youth aged 14 to 25 by providing comprehensive supportive services. They help young people navigate challenges such as housing, homelessness, food insecurity, mental health issues, substance use, and navigating complex systems, ensuring a brighter future for all. They aim to meet their needs and prepare them for their own version of successful learning. At Wyndham House, their values are compassion, equity, person-centeredness, and creative persistence.
Their programs include two supportive housing residences with eight beds each, a 16-bed Youth Emergency Shelter, the Concurrent Youth Hub, the New Way Education Partnership program, a housing stability outreach team, and a youth transition program. Wyndham House offers high-quality case management, housing support, and clinical assistance to youth with diverse needs and complexities. To address these challenges, Wyndham House has expanded its vision and efforts to provide comprehensive wrap-around care that meets the holistic needs of the youth we serve daily.
Fuelling Future Pantry Food Drive
Join Wyndham House in making a difference! The Wyndham House “Fueling Futures Pantry Food Drive” is underway until the end of June. Your generous financial donations will help them create emergency food hampers, while non-perishable food items are essential for our community pantry. Together, we can provide nutritious meals and support for the Guelph youth facing food insecurity. Let’s fuel their futures with care and compassion! To make a donation, https://www.wyndhamhouse.org/donate
Stepping Stone
A Path To Ending Homelessness in Guelph-Wellington. Stepping Stone helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness step forward on a path toward securing permanent housing in Guelph-Wellington through housing-focused programs and individualized support.
They are currently renovating their Emergency Shelter at 23 Gordon with plans to increase their capacity from 27 to 75 beds in 2025! To effectively serve the community, they are also incorporating a commercial kitchen. This kitchen will enhance their shelter programs and be a vital resource for building a sense of community by helping to combat food insecurity and deliver essential services.
While their available funds can facilitate the bed expansion, they do not extend to the kitchen. They would greatly appreciate assistance from the community in making this vision a reality! Click here to learn more and make a donation.
Children’s Reading Room
Children’s Reading Room is a non-profit family resource organization that promotes literacy and a love of books and reading! Whenever anyone visits the CRR, they will go home with a free children’s book! It’s theirs to keep, read, love, and cherish—no need to sign up for a membership or return the books. The CRR distributes hundreds of children’s books monthly through collaborations with many local organizations and provides a welcoming, accessible, and comfortable place where families can socialize, browse books, read to their children, and participate in planned literacy-focused activities.
Book Nook Program
The Children’s Reading Room distributes hundreds of free books monthly and offers accessible family literacy programs in the Guelph community. They collaborate with many organizations through the Book Nook program, removing barriers to accessing books and enabling families outside our neighbourhood to establish literacy-rich home environments.
Join them during March Break for exciting programs and activities from Wednesday to Friday! Did you know? They accept new and pre-loved book donations at 210 Silvercreek Pkwy N.
Hope House Guelph
Hope House is a local poverty relief organization serving over 7,200 people in Guelph providing immediate and ongoing support through food, clothing, essential resources and programs. It is also a place of connection for vulnerable individuals and families in our community. Hope House increases the well-being of vulnerable adults, youth and children through the provision of immediate relief and ongoing support. Hope House operates and advocates on the belief that poverty, food insecurity, inequality, health and community are all interconnected.
This year, Hope House Guelph is taking part in the Coldest Night of the Year, a nationwide walk happening on February 22, 2025 to support individuals facing homelessness, hunger, and hurt. Funds raised directly support Hope House programs, ensuring people in our community get the help they need. You can donate,volunteer, sign up to walk, or fundraise to make a difference!
Coldest Night of the Year
This year, Hope House is taking part in the Coldest Night of the Year, a nationwide walk happening on February 22, 2025 to support individuals facing homelessness, hunger, and hurt. Funds raised directly support Hope House programs, ensuring people in our community get the help they need. You can donate,volunteer, sign up to walk, or fundraise to make a difference!
Learn more about the Coldest Night of the Year.
Guelph Humane Society
Founded in 1893, the Guelph Humane Society (GHS) has been dedicated to protecting and caring for the many animals with whom we share our community and our lives, and to fostering the important bonds with animals that enrich us as individuals, families and communities. GHS provides care and shelter for approximately 3,000 homeless, stray, injured, orphaned, abandoned and abused animals each year, throughout Guelph and Wellington County.
The Guelph Humane Society envisions a world where all animals are treated humanely, with respect and compassion. Their mission is to advocate for all animals, and in particular those animals whose lives we can influence, through care, education, community support, protection, and leadership. To achieve those goals, they provide animal sheltering, pet rehoming, adoption services, veterinary care, pet identification, a progressive spay/neuter program, and return of lost pets. They actively participate in innovative programs like Cat Healthy, Capacity for Care and Cats & Birds. They also provide care and assistance with sick, orphaned and injured wildlife.
Learn more about Guelph Humane Society.
Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington
The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) is a non-profit organization that provides a full care system for those with substance use, mental health or developmental needs. We serve everyone from children to adults to seniors, all under one roof. Our programs help individuals and families to lead lives filled with meaning and promise. We have 450 staff at offices across Waterloo Wellington.
The Push-up Challenge
The Push-Up Challenge is Canada’s largest annual mental health-focused fitness event. From February 11 to 28, 2025, participants will complete 2,000 push-ups (or a more accessible variation of this), which represents the 2,000 lives lost to suicide each day, worldwide. Each day of the Challenge, you’ll receive a different push-up target, which corresponds to an important Mental Health Fact. Read and share the facts to start mental health conversations and help smash the stigma around mental illness. If push-ups aren’t your thing, you can still participate. Substitute push-ups with alternative exercises, like sit-ups, squats, jumping jacks – anything goes. You can also choose to aim for 50% of the push-up target and smash out 1,000 push-ups instead of 2,000. Create a team or join solo, it’s FREE to register, support your local CMHA Waterloo Wellington.
Learn more about the Push-Up Challenge.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Guelph
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph is the community’s largest youth mentoring charity, facilitating life-changing relationships between over 600 local children and their adult mentors. Many children and youth find themselves in vulnerable situations and facing adversities which puts them at risk of not reaching their full potential. With the guidance of a mentor, these risks can be avoided, and these young people can gain the confidence to achieve more. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph, there is an ongoing and increasing need for volunteer mentors needed to support the healthy development of children and youth between the ages of 5-17. Mentors are needed across all one-to-one and group programs that take place in the community and at the child’s school for as little as one hour per week. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph relies heavily on raising essential funds and support through the community to enhance its volunteer recruitment strategies and mentor intake processes, to increase the number of caring and consistent adults needed to be matched with a child.
Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters Guelph.
The BIG Night Out
The BIG Night Out Enchanted Forest-themed Gala is taking place at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in Guelph on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Join us for an evening of fun, entertainment, uniquely-themed food and beverage, live and silent auction, and impactful stories that showcase the incredible impact that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph (BBBSG), and its mentoring programs, has in the community!
With your support, BBBSG can continue to support more than 600 local youth who are facing adversities, but have unlimited potential. The BIG Night Out is a signature event on the charity’s annual calendar, bringing together generous individuals, businesses and community partners who are collectively committed to supporting the next generation of leaders.
Learn more about BIG Night Out.
Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington
The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington is a local organization whose mission is to enhance the well-being of children and youth by connecting them to experiences and supports that contribute to their sense of belonging and help them to reach their full potential. Together with their donors, volunteers and community partners they find opportunities in the hard times so that every child and youth has the opportunity to participate, learn, and grow to build a brighter future. They invest in children and youth through food security, access to recreation and life-skill activities, mental health and educational support, and holiday assistance.
Learn more about Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington.
Trees for Tots
Trees for Tots is a tree collection service in Guelph, the Township of Puslinch, and the Village of Rockwood. This one-day fundraising event for the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington sees over 200 volunteers come together to collect over 3,000 trees and raise critical funds to support the community. For a suggested minimum contribution of $15, you can register your tree to be collected on Saturday, January 11th, 2025 by one of our volunteers, where it will then be chipped, and returned to nature through walking trails, and other community projects. Register your tree by January 7th at treesfortots.ca
Learn more about Trees for Tots.
Guelph Wish Fund for Children
The Guelph Wish Fund for Children provides ‘wishes’ and support to children under the age of 19, residing in Guelph or Wellington County, who are living with a significant illness, life-altering injury or a rare and debilitating syndrome. For 40 years, they have provided over 460 personalized wishes that uplift both children and their families, offering moments of joy and connection in challenging times. Their impact reaches beyond individual wishes, fostering a strong, supportive community where many wish families remain involved for years, contributing to their mission and shaping the future of their work.
Learn more about Guelph Wish Fund for Children.
Tis’ the Season of Wishes
Starting December 1st Tis’ the Season of Wishes is a heartfelt holiday campaign by the Guelph Wish Fund for Children, dedicated to granting life-changing wishes for children with significant health challenges. This December, join us in making dreams come true through two special ways to give:
- Sponsor a Wish: Select a specific wish to grant, such as a therapy pool, family trip, or customized wheelchair. Each wish story showcases a child’s journey and the powerful impact of your support.
- Give a Gift in Someone’s Name: Spread joy twice with our digital Sponsor a Wish Gift Cards. Make a donation on behalf of a loved one, who will receive a downloadable certificate reading, “A Wish Was Granted in Your Name.”
From December 1st, they will feature 12 Days of Wishes, sharing inspiring stories and inviting you to be part of the magic. Together, we can bring joy, hope, and lasting memories to families in need this holiday season.
Learn more about Tis’ the Season of Wishes.
The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs
The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario – Wellington Guelph is a collaborative project, with the aim of providing youth ages 12-26 with the support they need to build positive, bright futures. The goal of The Grove Wellington Guelph is to build a more effective health and social service system, through integration and collaboration, to better meet the needs of youth in Wellington County & Guelph. Now an official Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario site, The Grove Wellington Guelph currently includes seven sites across Guelph and Wellington County utilizing the benefit of “one door”, while networking sites. At each site, youth will be given access to programs and services that provide guidance and support for the future. From education and career support to counseling and peer-to-peer programs, The Grove Wellington Guelph facilities will provide help and encouragement to every youth in the community.
Learn more about The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs.
Open the Door Holiday Campaign
The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs are thrilled to announce the launch of our “Open the Door” Holiday Campaign and, thanks to a matching gift from Co-operators, your donation will have double the impact! The campaign is aimed at ensuring that youth in our community have access to low-barrier help and support, designed by youth, for youth, and on their own terms.
As the holiday season approaches, we are reminded of the importance of connection, compassion, and community. However, for many youth and families in Guelph Wellington, this time of year can be particularly difficult as they cope with challenges. Far too often, they find themselves waiting for the support they urgently need.
Your donation helps open doors for youth who need support. With your help, the Grove Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario can provide spaces in Guelph Wellington where youth feel safe, heard, and cared for.