The ongoing efforts of the Caldwell Family Centre corporate sponsors, donors, volunteers, and staff are inspiring to see and incredible to be a part of. Their collective and tireless work ensures that we can offer as many services as possible “for people, with people”

However, we continue to see an increased need for the programs and services we provide. The needs in the community continue to grow. The number of healthy meals we serve continues to climb month after month and the number of families needing help through the Foodbank and Clothing Depot continues to increase at an alarming pace.

These trends continue in a worrisome direction and behind these statistics are suffering families, children, lonely seniors – human beings who deserve better.

Over the course of 2023, the Board of Directors along with our Building Committee, continued to work on plans to modernize the Bellevue Community Centre to make the space more amenable for the programs offered in the building. We continue to make improvements by upgrading kitchen equipment and other furnishing as we acquire funding to do so through grants. We are working closely with our landlord, Ottawa Community Housing (OCH), on how best to upgrade the HVAC system to make the space more comfortable for clients, volunteers, and staff.

Unfortunately, the Bellevue Community Centre is not adequate to provide all the services needed. While we are extremely grateful to OCH and the City of Ottawa for our current space, additional space is desperately needed.

Early this summer (2023), City View United Church generously came forward and offered us space in their building to house our Foodbank. While this move is a temporary one, we are very grateful as it has afforded us a much better environment for our staff and clients. The collection area for clients is much more spacious and our storage areas are way easier to access than the basement of the units on Medford.

But a permanent solution to our space issues is still needed and the Board continues to work urgently with staff to solve this problem. Ideally, we would be able to locate all the Caldwell Family Centre services in one location with sufficient space to continue to provide food, clothing, and wrap-around social services to those in need.

But we can’t do this without you. There are lots of ways you can help. Please keep the donations coming.  Help to raise our profile in the community by talking about the important work of the Caldwell Family Centre with your family, friends, and colleagues. Continue to raise awareness and advocate for solutions to the critical issue of poverty in our own city. Or volunteer with us.

Your help and support make our work at the Centre possible.