About Us : History

An idea formed in the Fall of 2002 to make use of some empty warehouse space for the benefit of shelters and organizations working with the homeless. From there grew the concept of a distribution centre for clothing and household items. Research indicated this was an unmet need when it came to donated goods.

After a trial run of one year, Gather & Give was incorporated as a non-profit society. At the time, we were a resource for winter clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags for 30 front line organizations.

In the Spring of 2004, the need for a centralized warehouse distributor of household goods became apparent. Front line workers assisting people in need were required to contact multiple organizations to acquire various household items, often without any luck.

In response, Gather and Give began stocking kitchen, bedding, and linen items and created a Starter Kit program to make it easier for people to acquire basic necessities. In a one stop referral process, organizations could contact us directly to receive a Kit for their clients.

Initially, we were giving away about 14 kits a month. As of November 2005, we are now giving away up to 60 kits a month and we have grown to support more than 70 different front line organizations.

As demand for resources continue to increase, we welcome new community partners to help meet this ongoing need.