OUR TEAM

“At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, it was Julie and her family who were out on 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 8,000 facebook members responded to that call and committed to join her mission. How Julie was able to mobilize thousands of volunteers and touch the lives of so many people in need, was nothing short of incredible.

Julie’s mission at 519 CC began with simply feeding folks living on the streets. However, it has grown to be so much more. 519CC now collects a large variety of donations, including but not limited to clothing, shoes, household goods, food, toiletries, feminine products, tents, tarps, outdoor essentials, children’s items, monetary gifts, gift cards, etc.

With these donations, the group now offers weekly outreach events (providing hot meals, sandwiches, and clothing/toiletries to anyone who shows up), emergency food hampers to families living in poverty, urban meal program (providing seniors living alone, or families going through medical emergencies/bereavement with prepared freezer meals), new beginnings program (helping folks transitioning from shelters to their own apartment in obtaining new furniture and essentials for their home), holiday gift hampers, and much more!

In less than a year, Julie Sawatzky and the 519 Community Collective have not only caught the attention of many citizens of Waterloo Region, but also the media.

In addition to the many tasks that Julie takes on in a day – whether it be preparing emergency food hampers, accepting the on-going donations at her home, shopping for the Urban Meal program, answering emails, coordinating volunteers, etc. – she always makes time to share the important work of the 519 Community Collective with the media – bringing awareness and education to the community about issues facing those living sheltered or in poverty in Waterloo Region.

Julie has been interviewed in a number of on-air programs including the podcast Heart Beats Hate, CBC Radio -The Morning Edition K-W, Virgin Radio, Faith FM, and KFUN are just a few. 

Her passion and commitment to this work are so apparent when listening to her speak. She brings the stories of those living on the streets and in poverty to life.

Julie and the 519 Community Collective have also been featured in The Record, The Grand Magazine, and The New Hamburg Independent. While Julie began this initiative on her own, she quickly realized the need was much greater than she could ever provide alone. Having an already established social network and presence in the community through her photography business, Julie knew that her people would respond to this call to action! 

By starting the 519 Facebook group, Julie has inspired 8,000 people to get involved and give in any way they can! From volunteering their time to physical donations to monetary donations, it is clear that the community is inspired to help. 

Through the group, Julie and her incredible co-chair Leah, and the admin team are also able to use the platform to educate the community about the realities of homelessness and addiction/mental health problems within our own community. 

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. 

Julie is truly the epitome of the saying “Lead by example”. In witnessing the work she is doing and the love she is pouring into the community each and every week, so many others have been inspired to do the same. 

Local businesses are stepping up to the plate and hosting fundraisers to support 519CC, families are coming together to make care packages or write notes of encouragement for people receiving food hampers, and individuals are taking time out of their schedules to come and hand out food or deliver hampers.

It’s truly inspiring and amazing to see what 8,000 kind hearted people can accomplish when they all come together!” – by Amanda Audrey