THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF OTTAWA Verified listing

At the Education Foundation of Ottawa, it’s simple; we believe that it’s about what kids deserve.
THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF OTTAWA
We exist to make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Around 42,000 children in Ottawa are living in poverty or their families are part of the working poor. That means 20% of kids in our city aren’t getting what they need to succeed. Kids are coming through the doors of our schools without the essentials they need to be active and ready to learn.
At the Education Foundation of Ottawa we believe that all children deserve an equal opportunity to learn and participate. We know that by giving children in need tools for success like nutritious food, school supplies, and the opportunity to take part in extracurricular activities, we open the doors to a brighter future.
The gaps we fill are the basics not covered elsewhere.
When social services or the education system have been exhausted, we help with the most basic of things:

healthy snack during the day
a geometry kit and calculator
a pair of glasses to read the whiteboard
weather appropriate clothing to keep feet warm and dry
the fee to attend a class field trip to visit a museum or participation in extracurricular activities.

Sometimes, families find themselves in precarious financial situations due to crisis:
The Education Foundation of Ottawa is here to step in and help when:

parents/caregivers are unable to work due to illness/injury
families experience a lack of food security
an emergency arises need due to a critical family circumstance (fire, displacement)

We also act a resource, by:

connecting families to other community services for support
advocating for families/students in need (when possible)

School is for so much more than just learning. School should be a safe haven; a place of stability. It’s the place where children spend most of their day; it’s their connection to the larger community. The Education Foundation of Ottawa is here to ensure that every child’s critical needs are met by giving students the essentials they need to make anything possible.
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