OUR TEAM

Julie is the Founder of the 519 Community Collective. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Julie and her family hit the streets of downtown Kitchener, handing out leftovers and food from their own fridge to those living unsheltered and to those living well below the poverty line. She always knew there was a need in Waterloo Region but truly had no idea to what extreme that needs was until she started forming relationships and chatting with the folks she was supporting.

It became immediately apparent that local programs and services were not enough to meet the needs of so many folks and that the gap was too big for her and her family to fill themselves. So she went to social media, created a group and started asking for donations and people to join her. Her call to action was put out there – and since then, over 11,000 Facebook members responded to that call and committed to join her mission. In less than a year, the 519 Community Collective has not only caught the attention of many citizens of Waterloo Region, but also the media. Julie has been interviewed on a number of on-air programs including the podcast Heart Beats Hate, CBC Radio -The Morning Edition K-W, Virgin Radio, Faith FM, Rogers TV and KFUN just to name a few. 

Julie’s commitment to meeting folks where they are at, and offering non-judgmental support to anyone in need has inspired others to open their hearts just a little bit more. Her welcoming attitude and generous spirit continue to inspire others to approach folks dealing with challenges with kindness and compassion.