We used to feed hungry kids.
Now we empower families to feed themselves.
Our Vision
We imagine a community where all children have an equal opportunity to thrive.
Our mission
We empower children and families with dignified options to alleviate food insecurity.
Our Values
Collaborative | Empowering | Progressive Inclusive | Evidence-Based
As a direct result of limited household income, too many children are unable to access enough healthy food every day.
80,000+
children and youth in Calgary struggle with food insecurity.
30%
or nearly 1 in 3 children in Alberta lives in a food-insecure home.
$1.4m
is our 2024 fundraising goal to empower more food-insecure families with choice, confidence, and dignity to care for their children.
This is the most amazing gift for a family in need. There are no barriers. It’s confidential and private. It’s efficient. The impact is immediate. And families get the freedom to choose their own food and the freedom to go to the store that they like. All of this with total dignity.
Your generous support empowers thousands of families with the dignity and confidence to plan, purchase, and provide fresh and healthy food that meets their kids’ unique needs.
Together, we’re creating a major impact.
Since we started providing grocery gift cards in 2020:
34,000+
food-insecure kids receive our support every year – while this is a big number, many more need our help.
200+
communities accessed our program through participation in more than 50 unique programs delivered by 23 frontline agency partners.
$3.4m+
in grocery gift cards have been targeted to food-insecure families in greatest need.
Thank you for choosing to build people up. It’s clear that you value people and their wellness – and that’s both rare and beautiful. Some people are so busy that they don’t see beyond the veil. You understand because you haven’t taken your eyes off your mission. Thank you for being indistractable. Thank you over and over for pouring care into my family and I. We really apprecite you.
With your help, we can achieve so much more!
Donate
Your generosity allows us to empower vulnerable people in our community with dignity and choice.
Fundraise
One person with one idea and a network of supporters can make a big impact.
Spread the word
The more people voice their support for our cause, the less kids will struggle with food insecurity.
It started with a simple question
In 2015, 11-year old Sutton Garner was watching a news item when she learned that thousands of children go hungry over the summer months. Like a lot of kids, she was both bothered by this and curious – she wanted to know why. And specifically if it was happening in Calgary.
What started as a youthful act of compassion soon evolved into a far-reaching mission to change the way we tackle food insecurity across our communities.
What’s new
National Observer Article
Ensuring people can afford food through income support is better for their mental and physical health, generates less food waste and is more cost-effective than food banks when it comes to tackling food insecurity, new research suggests.
Empowered by community support: a mother’s story of strength
On a sunny fall morning, Lily*, a single parent of three, shared her story, one that embodied both love for her children and an unimaginable hardship. In 2022, Lily was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer and was given only a few years to live. Despite the devastating diagnosis, her courage shines through. Her story is one of pain, struggle, and resilience.
iCAN mixes it up at Macquarie’s 8th annual charity fundraiser
I Can for Kids (iCAN) was thrilled to be one of three charities supported at Macquarie’s 8th annual charity fundraiser—a night that truly raised the bar!
A new paradigm to tackle the ever growing issue of food insecurity in Calgary and beyond
A new paradigm to tackle the ever-growing issue of food insecurity in Calgary and beyond.
Our champions
Without these community-minded and caring organizations, our work wouldn’t
be possible.
See More
Our innovative program is the first of its kind to tackle the root cause of food insecurity: inadequate income.
And innovation only thrives through the support of generous donors like you.