At Start Me Up Niagara, we are always in need of donated goods and services to keep operating effectively. Making your gifts go further and making sure they help as many people as possible is always our goal.
We want to thank our funders, donors, and volunteers who have helped us help those facing significant life challenges such as addiction, mental illness, poverty, homelessness and unemployment. Your gifts have touched the lives of our participants.
Due to COVID, we cannot accept used clothing (except for the listed items below) or homemade or prepared food. Below is a list of things we could always use and are in demand.
For the health and wellbeing of our participants and those in our community, we can only receive packaged food donations from commercial kitchens and food producers licensed by regional and provincial health regulators.
Although many in our community are very generous, we cannot accept homemade food items as we are unsure how they were prepared and if safe food handling protocols were followed. Canned food items will always be accepted, but please be mindful of expiry dates.
Computer items will no longer be accepted by SMUN. Determining the usefulness, age and compatibility of these donations is costly, time-consuming, requires the assistance of an IT professional and often results in more landfill.
If you are able, making a financial gift to Start Me Up can be arranged here. Charitable donation receipts are only issued for monetary donations. Start Me Up Niagara cannot offer a donation receipt for donations of canned food items, clothing, hygiene products, etc
The following items are always welcome and may be dropped off at The Centre at 17 Gale Crescent between 9AM and 12 Noon and 1 - 4 PM on weekdays and 10AM to 1PM on weekends.
Period products are a basic necessity. If you are living in poverty or are vulnerable in other ways, access to tampons, pads or cups can be challenging especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Period Products are available at Start Me Up Niagara. We are a part of the Period Promise and have period products for anyone in need.