May 2024
Here’s to Mama!
You can help teenage mothers with the items needed to care for baby, such as diapers, formula, new clothes, pablum, and board books.
June 2024
Summer Acts of Kindness!
Over the summer months, you can donate refillable water bottles, suntan lotion, caps, bandanas and lip balm.
September 2024
Back to School!
You can help students prepare for a successful school year. Donate new or gently used backpacks, pencils, notebooks, lined paper packages, crayons, and pencil crayons. We also accept new or gently used running shoes to make sure everyone can participate in gym class.
October 2024
Boo-Boo Kits!
You can help provide first aid. Donate bandages, wet wipes, tissues, hand lotion, lip balm or cough drops. We create individual first-aid kits with the bulk donations we receive.
November 2024
Happy Feet!
Did you know that socks are the most needed item during the colder months? You can help by donating a pair of warm socks to keep toes tapping. We accept all sizes, men, women, and children.
December 2024
Be Santa!
Help bring the magic of the season to those who are struggling. We need gift cards (small denominations of $5 or $10) OR you can purchase a Holiday Gift Kit! These kits are given out to children living in shelters and include a small toy or craft, a pair of mittens, and a candy cane. If you would like to send a child a Holiday Gift Kit, please e-transfer $20 (per kit) to hip@shaw.ca and we will send you confirmation that your kit will be delivered.
January 2025
Winter Wear!
You can help those experiencing homelessness keep warm. This is a great act of kindness for those who love to sew or knit. We need mittens, hats, scarves. You can also donate new socks, new or gently used winterwear (coats, boots, and vests), and handwarmers.
February 2025
Art is Love!
Art supplies are needed to empower children and youth to express themselves through creative play which supports good mental health. You can help by donating crayons, paints, paint brushes, canvases, journals, pipe cleaners, and coloring books (for all ages).
March 2025
Furever Yours!
We never forget the furry family members. You can help bring joy to our four-legged friends by donating small cans of pet food, brushes, toys, leashes, and treats.
April 2025
Skip into Spring!
The forecast for warmer days encourages us to be more active, to get outside and play. You can help childhood playtime by donating skipping ropes, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, playdough, small bouncy balls, and pinwheels.
May 2025
Take a Break!
Positive mental health is the hope behind our zaneography program. This month we encourage you to practice self-care and share it with others. Our social media campaign asks you to snap a photo of something or someone who makes you feel good. Or post a note about what self-care means to you. Post it on IG, using the hashtag zaneography. We are compiling these pictures and notes to share with youth as tools to support their own mental health.
June 2025
Summer Acts of Kindness!
Want to be hip over the summer? Volunteer (we can help find you a role you will enjoy). Give to support the impact hip has in our community. Donate dental hygiene items to us (we need lip balm, small toothpastes, toothbrushes, dental floss, individually wrapped lifesavers).
October 2019
Provide for the wee ones
October begins our h!p season and we would like to start off where we began…supporting the needs of young children in our City. You can donate diapers, formula, baby bottles or gently used clothing. We are accepting items suitable for newborn to 2 years of age. You can also sew (or knit) nightgowns, blankets or booties for infants.
We will be collecting items for this project throughout the month of October.
November 2019
Bring the bare necessities
Awareness about men’s health is promoted during the month of November. We want to help by collecting new underwear and socks. These items are always in need and important to have for maintaining good health. You can donate a pair of underwear or socks for a man or boy or stuff a pair of socks with razors and travel size shaving cream. Also, you can sew or purchase small cloth bags to carry the items.
December 2019
Wrap a gift card
December is the month of giving. We want to share with families the magic of the holidays by collecting gift cards. A $5 gift card is a great gift! Donated gift cards can be for a coffee, meal, movie or grocery store. You can tuck your gift card into a pair of mittens or socks or you can make holiday greeting cards or gift tags.
Don’t forget the pets! Gift cards are accepted for Rover or Fluffy.
February 2020
Share the joy of reading
On January 27th we celebrate Literacy Day. We want to share this joy of reading with those who have few or no books of their own. You can donate a new or very gently used book for a teenager or child or make bookmarks or a book name plate that can be placed in the books to identify the new owner!
We will be collecting items for this project throughout the month of January.
February 2020
Give a dog a bone
During the month of February, the importance of spaying and neutering our pets is promoted. We want to help by collecting dog and cat treats. These items will be a pleasant treat to enjoy while they recuperate. You can donate a treat or toy for a dog or cat or bake some little treats. You can also make a postcard explaining why it is important to spay or neuter pets.
We will be collecting items for this project throughout the month of February.
March 2020
Supply a healthy snack
March highlights the importance of nutrition. We want to bring healthy snacks to the children of the agencies we serve. Donations of granola bars (nut free), pumpkin or sunflower seeds, crackers or oatmeal packets and/or veggie peelers that we share with children learning to peel vegetables for a healthy snack! We would also welcome a printed recipe card of your favorite healthy snack.
We will be collecting items for this project throughout March.
April 2020
Brighten a smile
April is Oral Hygiene month and it is a great time to help bring healthy smiles to the families of the agencies we help. What products do you use to keep a healthy smile? You can donate toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, toothbrush holder or lip balm or you can write out tips on how to keep your teeth healthy.
Don’t forget about your pet’s oral health! We will deliver any donated dental chews to one of the animal shelters we support.
May 2020
Unleash the power of art
May is the month that brings awareness to mental health. Some of our agencies use art as a way to communicate and heal. Art is one way to support mental health. We are collecting art supplies to provide for these programs. You can donate glitter, markers, Crayola washable paint, brushes, art paper or small wooden frames. You could also make a booklet or journal for children to color or draw in by stapling colored paper together and drawing a cover for it. Also, adult coloring books can be donated because all ages need to practice good mental health.
We will be collecting items for this project throughout the month of May.
October 2020
Knit a toque
Do you like to knit? Use your talent and passion to knit to help youth living on our streets. This month we are collecting knitted toques, scarves & mittens to be given to youth ages 12 to 24. Help youth keep warm by sending them a head hug! Or, sew or buy a toque, scarf, mittens or hand warmers. Your act of kindness through the donation of a knitted or sewn toque would do just that!
November 2020
Let's give thanks
This month we give thanks to the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. Make a card or write a letter of thanks for their service and bravery. You can also include a gift card such as a $5 Tim’s card as a small token of appreciation.
December 2020
Bring tidings of joy
This month we want to help the smallest members of the family. Donate a gift such as baby rattles, teething rings, socks, diapers or formula. Make a receiving blanket or knit baby booties.
February 2021
Make winter fun
We know January can be a hard month for some, with the holidays over and long cold wintery days ahead. We want to share fun things to do to outside as a family. Give plastic squeeze bottles or Jell-o molds and food coloring for snow art, snowman materials like buttons and a carrot to decorate him, hot chocolate packets or S’more supplies, bird seed bells or Crazy Carpet sleds. You can also write out your favorite winter things to do as a family. Your ideas will be shared with the families we serve!
February 2021
Walk the dog
This month we want to help our four-legged friends stay healthy. Walking is good for all of us; it supports mental and physical health. Dogs are no different! Donate collars, leashes, poop bags or toys. Make fashion bows to attach to their collars or pouches to carry the poo bags.
March 2021
Step into spring
Spring will soon be here and so will the Easter Bunny! We want to share fun things for you to do in the spring. Donate cookie cutters (think fun spring shapes), egg decorating kits, nut-free candy, bubbles, sidewalk chalk or spring themed stickers. You can also make a greeting card wishing a Happy Easter.
April 2021
Mother's Day self care kit
Life changes a lot when you are a new mother. Help young teenage mothers by making self care kits for Mother’s Day by donating items that help mom with her busy schedule. Donate small hand lotion, wipes, grab and go snacks, gum, peppermints, travel mug, hair accessories (combs, elastic, dry shampoo), facial wipes, lip balm, emery boards, crew socks or create a card wishing her a happy day and reminding her how important her role as mother is for all of us!
May 2021
Plant kindness
The power of kindness causes a ripple effect and makes everyone feel better. We want to plant seeds of kindness. Donate seed packets, small pots (you can decorate them too if you like), garden markers, gloves or small gardening tools. You can make a post card or a garden stake (out of a tongue depressor) and print on it a positive message! We will share these pots of love with the families we support to plant and watch your kindness grow!
October 2021
Ghouls and goodies
This month we are collecting Halloween treats and costumes to give to the children we support. New or gently used costumes, small props, nut free candy are all accepted. Costumes should fit infants to children 10 years of age. You can also make treat bags by decorating a pillowcase or sewing two pieces of material together.
November 2021
Be creative
November is about the power of creative expression. Art helps us appreciate other perspectives and offers a social and emotional outlet. You can help provide the youth we serve by donating art supplies like pencil crayons, stickers, paints, brushes, canvas, or scratch pads. Decorate a journal cover to add to your giving.
December 2021
Pass the bread
This month we are helping bring Christmas to families in need by collecting non-perishable food items with a holiday theme. Share a favorite holiday dish— canned fruit, vegetables, gravy, rice, dressing, cider, hot chocolate. Can’t decide? Donate a gift card empowering the family to shop on their own. “Wrap” the gift card in a stocking made from paper or cloth!
January 2022
Be My Valentine
Bring Valentine's love to seniors. We are collecting cards and nut-free treats. Make a card and write a joke or quote in it about Valentine’s Day. Donate bulk treats or make little candy bags that we will deliver to seniors.
February 2022
Inspire kindness
This month we are going to pass kindness on with a mosaic heart of kindness. Using cardstock, cut out a heart shape or buy a heart-shaped piece of wood at the dollar store. Take a permanent marker and write a word or a quote of inspiration, and then color the heart in a variety of colors and shapes to give it a mosaic look.
March 2022
Stay safe
March is about safety. We are collecting items that help children stay safe. Think of night reflectors, whistles, solar garden stakes (to light up their front porch), reflective vests, stickers, shoelaces…you could include a postcard of tips on how to stay safe!
April 2022
Warm up a pet
Over the summer months we are collecting items for our new senior birthday kit! You can donate large print activity books, playing cards, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, Kleenex. Or make a card to wish a happy birthday!
May 2022
Ready, set, summer!
We are preparing for the upcoming summer holidays, giving the children we support items to keep them cool & comfortable in the hot days. Donate sunglasses, suntan lotion, hats, bug spray, water bottles or nut free granola bars. Get creative and ‘bling’ a ball cap with inspirational words or rhinestones.
September 2022
We help students
You can help too by donating school supplies, backpacks and running shoes (new or gently used). You can also make bookmarks that we share with the free books we give out!
October 2022
We help seniors
We collect items for senior birthday kits: lip balm, Kleenex, hand lotion, playing cards, large print activity books (travel size). Or you can make some birthday cards!
November 2022
We help children in shelters enjoy the holidays
We collect nut-free candy to make treat bags. The holidays we need candy for are Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter!
December 2022
We help those needing help over the holidays
We collect Gift cards. They empower people to buy grocery items that match their dietary needs. A $5 card can buy a hot drink and a bite to eat—it’s a great act of kindness!
Donate gift cards or holiday candy. Provide a stocking or make one out of cloth or paper for the gift cards.
January 2023
We help those living on the streets
We collect blankets, socks, hot chocolate packs, hand warmers, all sizes of hats, mitts & scarves. If you are a knitter, your pastime can warm someone today!
February 2023
We help moms and their babies
We collect diapers, formula, baby blankets, new baby clothes (0-2) and board books. You can also print your favorite nursery rhyme & color it.
March 2023
We help animals in shelters
We collect treats, blankets, collars & leashes. Bought or home made!
April 2023
We help families
We collect personal hygiene items; shampoo, toothbrushes, dental floss, toothpaste, nail files, hair accessories to make kits to help care for teeth, nails, and bodies! You can also make cards with a joke to make someone smile!
May 2023
We collect art and photography supplies for community programs
Journalling, expression through art and mindful photography are tools we use to help support good mental health!
Pictured here is a volunteer setting off on her first mindful photography walk! We titled this “Grounded”.
June 2023
We help those with dementia and Alzheimer’s
We collect sensory squares to make fidget quilts for those with memory loss. Choose any fabric & cut it into an 8” square. Sew on ribbons, strings, buttons, snaps or draw on with puffy fabric paint.
September 2023
Soups On!
We help address hunger by providing healthy snacks & soup packets that are easy to carry & make for lunch! You can help by donating packets of single serving soup, pasta, or nut-free granola bars.
October 2023
Personal Care Kits!
We help families by giving personal hygiene items, nail polish, nail files, small bottles of lotion, female hygiene products. Our kits help care for teeth, nails, and body!
November 2023
Warm up Winter!
You can help keep our street connected citizens warm by knitting or giving hats, mitts, socks, hand warmers, and hot chocolate packs.
December 2023
Give the gift of choice!
Donate gift cards which can empower people to buy grocery items that match their dietary needs. A $5 card provides a hot drink and a bite to eat. Buy or make stockings or gift bags for your gift cards.
January 2024
Show you Care!
You can help support physical & mental health by collecting first-aid items and comfort items such as nut-free snacks, colouring books, journals, and markers.
February 2024
Read On!
You can help change the world by giving the power of reading to a child. We are collecting new and gently used books for ages 0-12.
March 2024
Be the Bunny!
You can help bring a ‘hoppy’ Easter to kids in shelters by donating nut-free candy, silly putty or play dough.
April 2024
Give a Paw Up For our Furry Friends!
You can help animals in shelters with treats, food, toys, towels, and blankets.
Ways to give
Volunteer
82% of volunteers are looking for a less formal way to volunteer. They want to make a difference from where they are and when they can. We look at volunteering from this angle. We create simple and meaningful ways that you can make a difference, on your time.
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Donate
We practice humanity in Calgary. Through our programs, our volunteers have donated over 70,000 items of need. We’ve created innovative ways for community engagement and brought smiles to thousands of people. Your donation is how we can do what we do.
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