Impact Reports
2023 Impact Report
When GAP began just over five years ago, we were serving a sit-down dinner to about 60 people each week. Today, we provide 100 hot lunches every Tuesday, and on Thursdays, we deliver 640 dinners along with extra vegetables, fruit, bread, and eggs. We also offer free transportation through 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.
GAP is entirely volunteer-run, powered by over 300 dedicated individuals and supported by the local community, who enable us to offer so many weekly programs. Local grocery stores and restaurants contribute through daily food rescues. This year, nearly 50 businesses stepped up as sponsors for our major fundraiser, the Coldest Night of the Year. Many local businesses and manufacturers also donate fresh flowers to brighten our neighbours’ tables, as well as bathroom essentials, dog food, cleaning products, and even services like haircuts from a local salon and legal assistance from a local lawyer. It truly takes a community!
While community support and volunteers are the backbone of our services, the scale of food and other essentials we provide would not be sustainable without additional financial contributions. We receive generous donations from individuals, grants from foundations, and funding from municipal, provincial, and federal sources.
We are deeply grateful to all of our supporters!
Beth Houston
GAP Chair
2021 Impact Report
With the arrival of COVID, Gravenhurst Against Poverty (GAP) opened in unprecedented ways to reach many more neighbours within our community and beyond.
As you’ll see throughout this report, GAP has been both creative and resilient in responding to this cultural moment.
I want to extend my gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers who power GAP’s achievements and continued their work even in the face of a pandemic. Our volunteers include members of the local community from all walks of life and with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including those who have experienced poverty themselves.
Our generous community of donors—local business owners and residents—support GAP’s work through monetary donations and “gifts in kind.” We are also fortunate to receive substantial support from federal, provincial, and regional funding bodies that have greatly contributed to GAP’s initiatives.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has invested in Gravenhurst Against Poverty and in our vision of community wholeness.
We hope this report gives you a glimpse of the lives being transformed because of your support.
Bonnie Dart
GAP Steering Committee,
Past Chair
