For many of us, grocery shopping is becoming an increasingly stressful task as costs continue to skyrocket – even for essential items.
Now, imagine what it is like for many who are homeless or living in emergency shelters and supportive housing, with little to no extra money. The stress feels insurmountable, and the need for help – to buy basics like groceries and hygiene products – is compounded
Helping people obtain these necessities is why the ’s grocery gift card program has been life-changing for many vulnerable people in our community, especially in recent months.
Since the program’s launch in winter 2019, generous donors have placed gift cards from grocery retailers and other merchants in the hands of thousands of vulnerable people who access the many invaluable services Cool Aid provides. Such services include housing and emergency shelter, health and dental care, meal programs, and employment and wellness programs.
Since its founding in 1968 as a hotline and a hostel for transient youth, Cool Aid has grown to become an organization that houses and supports more at-risk and formerly homeless individuals than any other in Greater Victoria. Its network of services now encompasses 16 housing sites, three shelters, a community health centre, including a dental clinic, mobile health outreach services and a community centre.
Lori Angelini, Cool Aid’s director of philanthropy and community engagement, joined the organization in 2018 and saw, almost immediately, the potential to combine client choice and autonomy when it comes to food buying and preparation with donor areas of interest.
“I was tinkering with a new database, and it happened to have an online shopping cart. I thought, ‘What if we could adapt it in a way that donors could choose gift cards for our clients and then they could shop for the food that they want and need?’”
Since launching the program over two years ago, the public response has been overwhelming.
Initially, Cool Aid received enough donations to acquire more gift cards than they needed for the holidays. “We were able to give the rest to other shelter programs in the city,” says Angelini. “It was, on all fronts, a huge success.”
However, just a couple of months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the need for gift cards acquired a whole new dimension.
"That was when we realized we needed to do more for our clients," explains Angelini, "because, as a result of COVID, we could no longer receive donations of food from restaurants and individuals. Our clients relied on that. So, we relaunched the shopping cart, and again, people responded enthusiastically."
So far in 2022, Cool Aid has received donations equivalent to almost 1,500 gift cards, distributed among roughly 220 regular recipients.
Still, Angelini points out, the supply of donations isn't consistent. In particular, during summer and heading into the fall, the organization sees a dramatic slowdown, resulting in many recipients having to go without.
“Our clients look forward to their weekly grocery card,” says Angelini. “It’s like an income they didn’t have before. We also give them out through our community health centre, where many clients have extremely low incomes and sometimes a lot of health issues and special dietary needs.”
Angelini and her Cool Aid colleagues encourage everyone who has the means to make a gift card donation, which can be done via Cool Aid’s in just a couple of minutes.
“It’s become such a vital program for our clients because it’s not just feeding them,” says Angelini.
“They’re learning how to cook, building those life skills that people so desperately need. Rather than them receiving a premade meal, they can go out into the community and choose what they want. That’s something quite special and empowering that most of us never think about, and it’s more important now than ever.”
To make a donation to Cool Aid’s grocery gift card program, visit coolaid.org/giftcards. To learn more about Cool Aid and the many ways it helps homeless and at-risk individuals, visit .
