A huge THANK YOU to SC and all of you wonderful members. *Charity Update*

[SavenRaven]

As many of you know, I am the founder of Essential Aid and Family Services of Ontario Inc., a Family Needs Charity and Infant Food Bank. As so many of you have helped me with this incredible endeavor, I’d like to send out a huge THANK YOU to all of you, as without Smart Canucks, this charity would have never began.


I want to share my story…

When I first discovered SC, I quickly learned the power of saving, using coupons, points programs and sales. It wasn’t long before I was saving hundreds of dollars on my grocery and household items. During my pregnancy with my second daughter (in 2010), I learned all the tricks and tips of saving on infant supplies. By the time I was 6 months along in my pregnancy, I had enough diapers, formula, baby food, feeding supplies and toiletries to last my baby an entire year! My friends and family thought I was insane as my huge walk in closet was converted into a baby emporium. The shelves that used to house my mountains of clothing, handbags and designer shoes, now held rows and rows of baby necessities.

I felt more than prepared for the new baby and was secure in knowing that no matter what, my baby would have everything she needed by the time she was even born. My husband joked that we could survive the zombie apocalypse and not only provide for our baby, but the babies of every family in our neighbourhood. It was then that I realized how fortunate I truly was.


My husband and I had our first child in 2003 when we were both in college. We had barely enough to get by and times were incredibly tough. We shared a 1 bedroom apartment with our newborn daughter and slept on a creeky old lumpy futon in the living room of our tiny apartment so that she could have her own bedroom. We went without often and worried often. Like so many other families today, life was a struggle. 8 years later, I found myself staring into my gigantic stockpile of baby supplies and wishing every parent out there could be so lucky. That is when I decided. I decided that I would make it my mission to help as many struggling families as possible.


I began by sourcing families that were in need by scouring local classifieds looking for the desperate requests of help by mothers who were almost out of formula or diapers. I replied to those requests and provided these mothers with the diapers or formula that they needed to get by. They were so grateful and many shared with me their stories of how they were forced to water-down formula or wash and reuse disposable diapers in order to stretch to get by to their next paycheck. This broke my heart. I placed ads offering help and it wasn’t long before I had several families each week coming to my home to get the assistance they so desperately needed. Almost every parent I met told me the same thing… The foodbank just didn’t have any.

By Dec 2012, I had an average of 10-15 families coming to me each week and I knew it was time to step it up. With the incredible support from my Husband, I decided to open up a centre and register as a non-profit charitable organization. With a lot a hard work, piles of coupons, and a team of our friends volunteering, we proudly opened the doors to Essential Aid and Family Services of Ontario inc. in Feb 2013.


After just 6 months since opening, Our Emergency Infant Food Bank now provides assistance with Formula, Diapers and Baby Food to nearly 200 children each month, and that number is steadily climbing. We have become a staple resource in our community of Hamilton, Ontario. We are known by all the major resource agencies in our city and families are sent our way by CAS, The Good Sheppard, Neighbour2Neighbor, Public Health and various other programs. Besides the Infant Food bank, our centre also offers a large selection of items that are donated by community, including infant/children clothing, feeding accessories, crib bedding, toiletries, toys and infant gear. Families that visit our centre are able to get whatever they need for their children and they know that if they get stuck, there is a place they can turn for guaranteed help.

I sleep better knowing that I'm doing my part to help ensure that no baby goes unfed and that no mother has to make the desperate decision to choose between diapers, formula or groceries. I sleep better knowing that no matter what, I can make a difference.


I want all of you SCers to know, that without you and your contributions to this incredible forum, Essential Aid would not exist. You helped me discover the power of saving and, in turn, the power of giving. For that, I say THANK YOU!

[Bronwen]

Amazing story and amazing family you have what a great thing you do, Raven!!

[Candini]

Amazing! You are such a wonderful person.

[DianneS]

Amazing and inspirational story.....it gave me goosebumps!!!

[vaughngal]

I know eh. Such a wonderful story.

Amazing and inspirational story.....it gave me goosebumps!!!

[coupon girl]

raven you are too kind- I am sure it is needed in our city

[acosta]

Fantastic!!! I was incredibly happy to read this story and so thankfully you're helping other families.

[redhdlois]

Excellent work you are doing Raven ! I am proud to be a fellow SC !!

[SavenRaven]

Thanks for all the kind words

[Anna Michele]

awesome it is so great to see the nmber of families you help increase and I klmw itwi;; contine to increasegreat job you must be so proud

[avoncallingu]

What a fantastic service you are providing! Thank you very much!

[ticul]

Amazing and inspirational story.....it gave me goosebumps!!!

Me too it gave me goosebumps and yes it is a AMAZING and INSPIRATIONAL. You are a great person to do what you are doing. Very nice story and thank you so much for sharing it with us.....

[couponclippercaitie]

I love reading your story Raven! Please keep it up, so inspiring!

[CanadianCouponCollector]

I, too have goosebumps. I'm about to begin my 2nd year as a Social Service Worker student and my placement is at a local food bank. I simply cannot WAIT to get in there and start tossing some coupons around so we can help MORE people!!

Thank you for what you're doing.

[sdddmd]

You're incredible a true inspiration....