100 People Who Care Brant, a local giving circle, raised $26,565 in 2024, which has been distributed among three deserving local charities.
This group of ordinary citizens is united by a common goal: to make a positive difference in the community by pooling their charitable donations. Each member’s contribution helps provide a one-time, unbudgeted financial boost to charities addressing immediate needs in Brantford, Brant County, and Six Nations of the Grand River.
In the spring of 2024, Brant Food for Thought received $9,500 from 100 People Who Care Brant. The organization provides vital support to Student Nutrition Programs in Brantford and Brant County schools, helping children succeed in their studies by providing access to nutritious meals. The donation enabled Brant Food for Thought to enhance its program at four local schools. New commercial refrigerators were delivered to North Ward School, Sacred Heart School, and Burford District Elementary School, while Cobblestone Elementary School received two Vitamix blenders for their healthy smoothie program.
With a $7,560 donation, Willowbridge Community Services in Brantford was able to offer rapid-access counselling to 47 community members in crisis throughout the summer and fall of 2024. This program provides immediate, solution-focused therapy to individuals facing urgent challenges, helping them set goals, create safety plans, and receive the support they need in moments of vulnerability. In some cases, participants find such relief through a single session that they no longer require long-term services.
Devon Atherton, Communications and Project Manager at Willowbridge, expressed gratitude, saying, “We are humbled and excited to continue providing this critical service to community members in need.”
In its final donation of the year, 100 People Who Care Brant contributed $9,505 to the Salvation Army Brantford-Paris Food Bank. This timely donation followed on the heels of an urgent appeal in August 2024, when the food bank faced an unprecedented shortage. Will Ratelband, Community and Family Services Coordinator for the Salvation Army, shared that it was the first time in nearly two decades that the food bank had to close early due to a lack of food.
Sarah Disher-Neddow, a member of 100 People Who Care Brant, commented, “One of the great strengths of this group is how quickly we can respond to the needs of local organizations.”
About 100 People Who Care Brant
100 People Who Care Brant is a local giving circle committed to making a meaningful impact on the community. By uniting individuals from Brantford, Brant County, and Six Nations of the Grand River, the group is able to pool donations and provide substantial support to local charities. The concept is simple: members contribute between $75 and $300 annually, with donations made in three payments. The collective power of these contributions transforms individual donations into substantial support for local causes.
