ABOUT US
What exactly is the 519 Community Collective?
The 519 community collective is a non-profit that was created on March 30th 2020 during the covid 19 pandemic by our founder Julie Sawatzky with very humble beginnings.
We are one of many groups working together to fill gaps within the Waterloo region. We advocate for many seniors, single parents and families who are living in shelters or transitional living by providing emergency aid and essentials to create a better and more stable tomorrow.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: be honest, be kind, show love and compassion and do it all while being humble. We believe that everyone is welcome at the table.
We have worked very hard and will continue to work very hard to create a safe and welcoming space for everyone regardless of Economics, Background, Religious Beliefs, Race, Gender, Disabilities or otherwise. We recognize that we are just one of many local organizations working together to fill in the much needed gaps within the Tri-Cities and Waterloo region.
Our Goal
Our goal is to advocate and create relationships with some of the most vulnerable folks within our region.
We see folks from all different walks of life and we approach each situation and person in the same non judgemental way.
We are big believers in showing kindness no matter what.
Partnerships
We also work closely with many different local charities and organizations to provide support to those who are new to our country or those escaping abusive relationships.
We do our best to provide emergency aid and essentials to create a better and more stable tomorrow for many many folks every single day.
OUR PROGRAMS
The 519 community collective has 12 programs including a community fridge, nourish kitchen, 2 urban community gardens, 23 little free pantry locations now installed across the region and an assortment of emergency food programs.
Our outreach program provides food and essentials to over 400 people per week now living on the streets in shelters and encampments every single week. We accept gently used donations, health and beauty products, hygiene, pantry items, household items, cleaning supplies, tents, coolers, backpacks and much more.
We also work along side of the Waterloo region public health and are able to accept fresh food in our weekly hampers given out through our food programs.
Our new beginnings program supports individuals moving to stable accommodations from shelters, the streets, fleeing abusive relationships and more. We help to provide used furniture bedding towels small appliances and more which have kindly been donated through our community.
It has been absolutely incredible to see what we can accomplish when we all work together — over 150 families have been supported through our new beginning, over 3,000 emergency food hampers have been sent out, over 6,000 home cooked nutritious meals have been provided, thousands and thousands of sandwiches and individual baked goods have been sent out to those who are hurt, hungry and homeless.
We have also supported hundreds of pets through the region with pet food and supplies, and we continue to send out countless amounts of supports and essentials to the different shelters and organizations supporting some of the very same folks that we see every week.
We are very grateful for everyone’s trust and support over the years and we will continue to strive hard to provide a better tomorrow for so many who otherwise would not have that to look forward to.
List of our 519-Programs
- 1. Emergency Food Hampers
- 2. The Urban Meal
- 3. The Nourish Community Fridge
- 4. The Nourish Kitchen
- 5. The Urban Garden
- 6. Street Outreach
- 7. New Beginnings
- 8. 519 Little Free Pantry Project
- 9. Sandwich Ministry
- 10. Supporting Local Encampments
- 11. Special Christmas Easter & Thanksgiving Sponsorships
- 12. 519 Pet Care Program
Meet the Board of Directors
What we do is hard but working with the right people who are always ready to serve is priceless.
Julie Sawatzky
Leah Goetz-Bryant
