When G.A.P. began, just over 5 years ago, we were providing a sit-down
dinner to approximately 60 people per week. We now provide 100 hot lunches every Tuesday and 640 delivered dinners, along with extra vegetables, fruit, bread, and eggs, every Thursday. We provide free transportation via taxi cards, gas cards, and volunteer drivers. In response to the need for Wellness initiatives, we run a weekly coffee social, art drop-in, men’s luncheon, young adult program, and a ‘learn to cook on a budget’ class. G.A.P. is entirely volunteer-run, with over 300 volunteers, and relies heavily on the support of the community to run so many weekly programs. Local grocery stores and restaurants provide food rescue daily. Almost 50 businesses stepped forward this year as sponsors for our major fundraising event, the Coldest Night of the Year. Local businesses and manufacturers have supplied fresh flowers to brighten our neighbours’ tables, bathroom essentials, dog food, and cleaning products and, in some instances, provided free services for our neighbours; a local hair salon has cut our neighbours’ hair, and a lawyer has provided legal powers of attorney. It certainly takes a community! While the community support and volunteers are essential cogs in our services, we would not be able to sustain the quantities of food and other necessities that we deliver, without additional financial support. We receive generous donations from individuals, grants from foundations, as well as municipal, provincial and federal funding. We are indebted to all of our supporters! Beth Houston, G.A.P. Steering Committee - Chair
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2023 Impact Report
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"With the arrival of Covid, Gravenhurst Against Poverty (G.A.P.) opened up in unprecedented ways to reach many more neighbours in its community and beyond.
As you will see throughout this report, G.A.P. has been creative in responding to this cultural moment. I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who power G.A.P.’s achievements and who continued their work in the face of a pandemic. They include members of the local community from all walks of life with various backgrounds and experiences including people living in poverty. Our generous donor community is made up of local business owners and members of the local community who donate money and/or ‘gifts in kind’ to support the work of G.A.P. Federal, provincial, and regional funding bodies have also greatly contributed to G.A.P. initiatives. We are very grateful for everyone who has invested in Gravenhurst Against Poverty and in its vision for community wholeness. We hope this report gives you a glimpse of how lives are being impacted because of you." Bonnie Dart, G.A.P. Steering Committee - Former Chair
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2021 Impact Report
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These lovely Impact Reports were beautifully designed for us by Sublime Graphics in Bracebridge.