1. Adsum House This shelter houses up to 80 women and children daily, providing safety, warmth and security to those in need. Adsum House has set up an online “shop” for the holidays, where donors can buy specific items such as “a robe, slippers and PJs for a woman at Adsum.” Starting at $25, these donations are accessible and have impact. Head to its website for more info. adsumforwomen.org/shop
2. Halifax Refugee Clinic This community organization provides free legal and settlement services to refugee claimants in the province. The clinic accepts donations in a variety of ways: you can donate online, drop off or mail. You can also help out the clinic by donating a car. halifaxrefugeeclinic.org
3. Family SOS This local non-profit is a child-centred organization focused on building strong and healthy families. Family SOS offers free programs that focus on things like developing relationships within families, improving confidence in children and youth, encouraging pro-social choices and more. Donate through its website. familysos.ca
4. John Howard Society/ Elizabeth Fry Society These organizations work with people who have come in contact with the law or are currently incarcerated. John Howard (for men) and Elizabeth Fry (for women) run programs in and outside of prisons, working to address the root of criminalization. Find more information about donating on their websites
johnhoward.ca and efrymns.ca.
5. Feed Nova Scotia Feed NS collects and distributes food to over 150 food banks around the province. During the holidays, you can donate special items like a turkey, a bottle of wine or even host a food drive yourself.
feednovascotia.ca/donate/ways-to-donate-this-christmas
6. Veith House
Veith House is a community hub offering programs such as free preschool and counselling, community meals, affordable yoga,
community gardening and art therapy. It’s also a meeting space for several non-profits. In addition, Veith House recently launched a social enterprise called Future Roots, which employs, trains and supervises youth to provide services to older neighbours. veithhouse.com
7. Dress For Success
This organization helps women work towards economic independence by providing a support network, professional attire and other tools to help them succeed in both work and life. You can donate money or clothing year-round.
halifax.dressforsuccess.org/get-involved/donate
8. Mission to Seafarers
Everyday, fishing boats, cruise ships and/or cargo boats arrive in the Halifax harbour and crew members leave the ships to spend time on shore. Mission to Seafarers provides a facility where seafarers can rest, be warm, use wifi, purchase SIM cards, as well as free coffee and snacks. missiontoseafarershalifax.ca
9. Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
This community hub provides a variety of programming such as crafts and cooking classes for Indigenous youth, educational opportunities and community events. Seven Sparks is also an in-house program which supports folks who have recently been released from prison. In the next few years, the centre plans to relocate to a new, larger building on Gottingen Street and you can donate year-round by visiting the Friendship Centre. 2158 Gottingen Street
10. United Way
Halifax According to United Way, 50,000 people in the city are living in poverty right now and 19,585 households are at risk of becoming homeless. United Way is currently working with HRM to create poverty solutions and it also funds a network of smaller organizations that deliver programs on the ground, many of which are on this list. Check out United Way’s “gift giving guide,” which suggests how your donation can help the community. unitedwayhalifax.ca