Meet our 2020 Charitable donation recipients
When I started My Kindness Calendar 3 years ago, I was determined to build giving back and kindness not only into our products but into my brand promise and corporate strategies as well. This is why every year, My Kindness Calendar donates 5% of profits, plus in-kind donations of product, to deserving charities and groups doing great work on issues we are passionate about.
Right now, I am more grateful than ever to be able to give back through this corporate mission. The need is overwhelming. And yet so are the people and places doing incredible things to support and help in this unprecedented time.
While I may be small (business), as with each act of kindness, every little bit counts. I am thrilled to be supporting two incredible groups this year making a difference in my local community and country - The Stop Community Food Center, and Knix's Fundraiser for PPE for Frontline Workers.
One other reason that I chose both of these organizations is due to the matching program that they both have running at the moment, with a dollar for dollar matching program thanks to the generosity of foundations they have partnered with. Doubling the impact of our donation is a huge win, making every dollar count.
The Stop Community Food Center
Right now, as access to food is something that everyone is thinking about, from the lines at the grocery store to the scarcity of products, as communities, we are experiencing new challenges surrounding food access. And yet barriers and challenges exist year round for so many in our communities, making the work of food banks, school food programs and similar services so vital. The Stop is a community food organization in my neighbourhood that does incredible things. More than simply a food bank, it is a community hub that provides healthy food and helps community members build food skills. The Stop also fosters social connections and community building through its many skill building programs, from financial literacy, to civic engagement and programs for new and expecting mothers. It's a full stop shop and a gem in our community, helping to ensure that nutritious, sustainable and culturally appropriate food is a human right for everyone.
The emergency food access services that they are providing right now are a lifeline for many in the community.
Knixwear's Fundraiser for PPE for Frontline Workers
I was first impressed by Joanna Knix, the founder of the innovative Canadian company Knix (who makes intimates for women and promotes self-confidence and empowerment for women of all ages) at the Mompreneurs conference last year, where I was a finalist for a start-up award. Her company and its success and innovation speak for themselves; it’s the type of business that so many small businesses like myself look to as an example of how women-led businesses with good ideas can grow. And its founder is an example of the type of leader and business person that I admire and aspire to be with a growing company - someone authentic who builds giving and supporting others into their personal and professional missions.
Founder Joanna Knix started a GoFund me campaign to raise money for vital PPE for Canadian hospitals, using her suppliers to procure the PPE and using her networks and platform to encourage donations. The importance of getting essential PPE to our frontline staff is paramount right now, and I am thrilled to support this effort and a passionate individual and company who are making this happen on top of all of the responsibilities involved in running a business through this challenging time.