A Message from Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold
Posted June 3rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Niagara, Ontario Thanks to an ANONYMOUS Donor, donations made to our Big Impact Backpacks program will be MATCHED! This will help us provide for more Kids to start school ready!
Back-to-school season should be exciting — not stressful. But for too many families, it means choosing between food and school supplies.
Since 2022, we’ve seen a 31% increase in children accessing our services. Many are from single-parent households — families facing rising costs and tough decisions every day. In 2022, 35.4% of lone-parent families in Ontario experienced moderate or severe food insecurity.
That means thousands of kids are showing up to class without the basics they need to succeed.
But you can help change that — right now.
Introducing: Big Impact Backpacks.
Starting now, donations will be matched — dollar for dollar — up to $5,000.
That means your gift can go twice as far to provide new backpacks, fresh school supplies, and the confidence every child deserves.
Did you know that in 2024, 46% of kids ages 3–9 and 37% of youth ages 10–14 started the school year off in a positive manner because of our Back to School programs?
With our match, we can do more….together. It costs over $100 per child to outfit them with back to school supplies.
✅ Today ~ a donation of $50 becomes $100
✅ Today ~ a donation of $100 becomes $200 —that’s enough for two kids to walk into school feeling ready, equal, and proud
Let’s meet this moment — and meet the match. Together, we can send Children across our community from kindergarten to grade 12, back to school with everything they need to thrive.
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With gratitude, Betty-Lou Souter, Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold
About Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold – Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold has been meeting the needs of those facing challenges in our community since 1919. The fundamental principles on which the agency was founded has not changed over time. What has changed is that the increase and need has grown exponentially. In order to support the on-going aid required, we have increased our supports and programs and are constantly evolving. Current programs and supports include food security, clothing security, homelessness prevention and emergency services, all in direct response to community needs.
For more on Community Care, click on – About | Community Care
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