Fueling Young Minds in Brantford Every Day

Gifts of the Heart Brantford is committed to nourishing children with free, healthy lunches, fostering well-being and community support throughout local schools. Our mission centers on ensuring every child has the nutrition they need to thrive and succeed.

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WHAT WE DO

Gifts of the Heart program began in 2021 as a grassroots effort to feed and clothe kids in need. Starting with a simple request to Brantford’s Downtown Central Neighbourhood Association (DCNA) of seven dozen eggs for food insecure families, Gifts of the Heart has grown to currently providing over 200 children with daily lunches across many Brantford schools. In addition, we provide weekend pantry item bags and weekly food bins to over 40 in-need families, as well as offer donated clothing and hygiene items to those who need it most.

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OUR IMPACT

The impact that this support makes to a family experiencing poverty is truly priceless. With the offer of a free, nutritious lunch, educators have cited a significant reduction in absenteeism, suspensions, anxiety, stigma and behavioural issues among their students supported by Gifts of the Heart. Trust between the school community and families has vastly improved. Stress in family dynamics is lessened, offering a boost to overall mental health of kids and their guardians. The benefits of this aid cannot be understated.

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VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Gifts of the Heart seeks to aid even more vulnerable kids through our programs. As word gets out about the positive impact our programs have on not only the individuals benefitting, but also their families and school communities, we’ve seen an influx in other schools and school boards reaching out seeking support for their food-insecure students. Our goal is to be able to expand our program capacity to include more elementary and also highschool students. In order to accomplish this goal, we’ll be leaning on our community of support to make it happen. Please consider donating financial gifts or sponsoring today to help make this goal a reality.

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GET INVOLVED

As we work hard to sustain and expand our aid, we are seeking big-hearted partners to make a positive impact in the lives of our most vulnerable demographic. Corporate and Gift in Kind sponsorships are on offer and we welcome supporting partners with open arms. We also welcome monetary, food, hygiene and children’s clothing donations from individuals and families looking to make a difference in our community.

If you are interested in volunteering for Gifts of the Heart, please reach out and let us know! We have all kinds of volunteer opportunities and can help to find something that best suits your skills and schedule.

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