For 20 years now, The Gift of Giving Back has been inspiring youth to step up, give back, and make a difference. What started with a little red wagon and a dream has grown into one of Canada’s largest community food drives. Together with schools, sports teams, community groups, and generous donors, we’ve collected millions of pounds of food for local agencies, helping families right here at home.
The 2025 Campaign was recently featured in a segment on CHCH News. Click the play button to watch the broadcast.
What an incredible way to close out our 20th year! 🎉
On December 2nd and 3rd, Burlington showed up in a big way. Our Burlington Barracudas, Burlington Eagles, and Nelson High School teams came together to deliver and sort months of hard work, and the results speak to the power of this community.
Together, Burlington raised $63,000 and collected 191,000 pounds of food, for a total value of $750,000 worth of donations for families facing food insecurity right here in our community.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. On December 3rd, we celebrated two decades of youth-led impact alongside Burlington City Councillors, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, our incredible network of partners, beneficiaries, volunteers, and of course, the heart of it all, our youth leaders and their families.
This is what #kidsfeedingkids looks like. When young people lead food drives, they build empathy, develop leadership skills, and discover their power to create real change. They learn that strong communities are built by neighbours helping neighbours, and that compassion learned young is carried for life.
To every parent who drove carloads of donations, every coach who supported the cause, every volunteer who sorted and packed, every youth leader who rallied their teammates, we want to say THANK YOU!
Here’s to 20 years of community spirit, and to the next generation of compassionate leaders shaping our future. 💙
#YouthLeadTheGift #KidsFeedingKids #BurlingtonStrong #CommunitySpirit #GiftOfGivingBack #20YearsOfImpact #BurlingtonBarracudas #BurlingtonEagles #NelsonHighSchool #FoodDrive #YouthEmpowerment #Burlington #HaltonRegion #GiveBack #CommunityImpact
This Sunday, the U18 @nhtwisters are collecting food for families facing food insecurity at their 5:00 PM game! 🏒
While Twister Day raises funds for cancer research, our youth leaders saw a chance to do even more good. They`re inviting everyone to bring non-perishable food items to the game.
How to help:
🥫 Bring non-perishable food items for donation to the game
🧁 Buy baked goods (support cancer research!)
📱 Tap to donate
📅 Dec 7 @ 5:00 PM | U18 Twisters vs North York Storm
📍 Sherwood Community Centre - Pad 2
See you there!
#TwisterDay #GiftOfGivingBack #YouthLeaders #MiltonON
🎉 It’s #GivingTuesday AND we’re closing out 20 YEARS of The Gift of Giving Back!
This isn’t just any week either...our Burlington drive at Nelson is happening NOW, and it’s the grand finale of our 20th Anniversary campaign.
For two decades, youth across Halton have shown up, rallied their teams, and fed thousands of families. This Giving Tuesday, we’re asking YOU to show up for them.
Your donation today supports local families and keeps this youth-led movement STRONG for years to come.
We’re in the final stretch. Let’s close out 20 years with PURPOSE. Let’s make it COUNT.
💙 To make your donation comment “GIVE” or click the link in our bio!
💙 Tag someone who believes in the power of youth.
💙 Share this post and spread the word.
Thank you for believing in #KidsFeedingKids. Let’s GO. 🚀
#GivingTuesday #KidsFeedingKids #GiftofGivingBack #BurlingtonDrive #20YearsStrong #MakeItCount #BurlOn #GivingTuesdayCA #Oakville #GiveBack #YouthEmpowerment #FoodSecurity
🌟 Two weekends. One incredible community.
Stuff the Bus wrapped with huge results at both Fortino’s locations, thanks to the nonstop energy of our Burlington teams.
Weekend 1:
1196.4 pounds of food collected
$9,934.05 in financial contributions
Final total: $14,193.25 worth of donations!
Weekend 2:
1449.1 pounds of food collected
$9,213.85 in financial contributions
Final total: $14,343.65 worth of donations!
Together, that is thousands of pounds of food and tens of thousands of dollars in support for families across Halton. Every shift, every volunteer, every parent and player made this possible.
Thank you to our teams, coaches, and parents for showing up with heart, and to our partners and supporters for helping us make these two weekends a success. Special thanks to fortinos.appleby and @fortinosnewstreet, @attridgetransportation, @burlingtoneagleselite, @bghc_news, our many incredible partners, and Mayor @marianne.meedward for your continued support.
#GiftOfGivingBack #StuffTheBus #YouthGiving #BurlingtonOntario #Halton #CommunityStrong #GiveBack #HockeyCommunity #StrongerTogether
❤️ Oakville, you showed up in a big way.
Over 87,000 pounds of food and $40,000 in financial gifts were collected this weekend, bringing the total value of support to just under 350,000 dollars for our community.
This drive was extra special as our founder, Jean Longfield, received an official 20-year recognition from the Town of Oakville, presented by Councillors Marc Grant and Janet Haslett-Theall on behalf of the town and Mayor Burton. A proud moment for our entire organization.
Thank you to every team, parent, and coach who worked tirelessly to make this happen, and to our incredible partners for their ongoing support. 🌟
@oakvillerangershockeyclub @oakvillehornets
@townofoakville @oakvillefareshare @kerrstreetmission @thesalvationarmyburlington @feedhalton @foodforlifecan @haltoncompassionsociety @haltonlearningfoundation @burlfoodbank @rockreachout @haltonccf @carpenter_hospice @haltonwomensplace
#Oakville #GiftOfGivingBack #CommunityStrong #YouthGiving #FoodDrive #HaltonOntario #20YearsOfGiving #StrongerTogether
Burlington, you showed up! 🚌💛
After an incredible first weekend at Fortinos New St., we’re back for round two and we`re ready to fill the bus all over again!
Join us Nov 22–23 at Fortinos (Dundas & Appleby) and help make this year’s Stuff the Bus our biggest yet.
Every item, every hello, and every smile makes a difference.
#TheGiftofGivingBack #StuffTheBus #BurlOn #FoodDrive #Fortinos #GiveBack #CommunityGiving #FoodSecurity
