Your Impact in 2025

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What's in Our January Newsletter?

1. Your Impact in 2025

2. Programming Statistics
3. Miracle on Cookstown Road

4. Food Pantry Wishlist

5. Volunteer Spotlight

6. Events & Updates

Hey, neighbours: Happy New Year!

Bridges to Hope is committed to providing dignified and accessible assistance to those experiencing food insecurity. Our vision is a community where all of our neighbours have access to nutritious and culturally-appropriate food.

For our first newsletter of 2026, we're digging into the numbers from2025 and reflecting on the meaningful impact your support has had in our community. We'll also share some important updates for January. Read on to learn more.

Annual Programming Statistics

In 2025, demand for food assistance in the St. John's Metro region remained at historic levels. Over the course of the year, our food bank saw 17,910 total visits, a 36% increase compared to 2023. Throughout the year, we continued to hear from families who shared they were at a breaking point, no longer able to keep up with the rising cost of housing, groceries, and other essentials.

As in previous years, children were the fastest-growing demographic seen by our food bank. In 2025, 31.1% of those we served were children aged 0-17, underscoring the continued impact of food insecurity on young families.

In response, and thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, we were able to expand our Bag to School program, supporting 900 K–12 students, up from 725 students in 2024. This meant more local children returned to school with the tools they needed to focus on learning and simply being kids.

Our work is only made possible because of the strength and generosity of our community. Time and again, we have seen donors, volunteers, and community partners step forward to ensure our neighbours are supported with dignity and care. Your commitment allows us to meet people where they are and respond with compassion in moments of hardship.

At the same time, the continued rise in demand reinforces an important truth: while food banks play a vital role in providing immediate relief, long-term solutions must address the conditions that lead people to seek food assistance in the first place. As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to advocating for policies that strengthen income-based supports, improve access to affordable housing, and reduce food insecurity across our city, province, and country. To this end, we are proud to have joined the NL Anti-Poverty Coalition.

Volunteer Hours

Our work is powered by people and their passion to serve the community they are in. Last year, more than 4500 volunteer hours were dedicated to keeping our food bank running smoothly; from donation pick up and shopping, to sorting donations and portioning bulk food, restocking shelves, and providing friendly service to our neighbours, volunteers were at the centre of everything we did.

Thanks to all of our volunteers for their incredible support and kindness throughout 2025. Your dedication has a meaningful impact in our community, and our mission is only possible because of you.

Miracle On Cookstown Road Update

As the tree is taken down and we return to our day-to-day routines, our team is feeling truly encouraged and inspired by the incredible support our community showed throughout the 2025 holiday season.

Whether you donated food, made a financial gift, or helped spread the word among friends and family, your generosity helped put food on the table for our neighbours and made a Christmas to remember for families across the St. John’s-Metro region. More than that, your support played a meaningful role in relieving hunger in our community, and we are deeply grateful for your support.

Please join us in thanking the following businesses, organizations, and other groups for their support:

A&W White Rose Drive

Altius Minerals
Corporation

Anonymous Donors
Avalon Celtics U15C
Baine Johnston Building

Bell Aliant Pioneers Fort Pepperrell Club

Blue On Water

Cal Legrow Insurance

Capital Ford
CAPNL
Capps U11 Basketball Team

Cole Law Offices

Colemans
Cougar Helicopters
Dark Elf On the Shelf by Hasan Hai

East Coast Kia

Ecclesiastical Insurance

Exit Realty Aspire

Fairview Investments
First Baptist Academy

First United Church

First United Church Men’s Club
First United Church United Church Women

Genesis

Girl Guides Canada
Hopkins, Pope & Associates
Jodee & Nicole

Kin Club of St. John’s
Kinetic Chiropractic
LeGrow's Travel
Little Nest
Little Peoples Workshop

Liveby Wealth Management

MINI St. John’s
Miller Centre

Nature’s Friend Lawn Care

Neptune Lodge

NFLD Antique & Classic Car Club

Noel Clarke & Family

Orange Theory Fitness
Path Finders and Rangers
Peter Easton Punks
PetValu Churchill Square
Pinchin Limited
PolyUnity

RBC Dominion Securities

RE/MAX Realty Specialists

Responsible Sharing Committee, Sisters of Mercy

Robert Moore Personal Real Estate Corporation

Rotary Club of St. John’s

Rowsell Appleby Newton Engineering Inc.

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association

Solace Power Inc.

St. Andrew’s Wreathmakers
St. David's Presbyterian Church
Steele Mazda

St. James United Church
St. John's Farmers Market

St. Lawrence Parish

Stride Running Club

Subsea7
SWURL MAUL SOUL

TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board
Tommy Hilfiger, Avalon Mall

The Marlowe Foundation

Unifor
Urban Shoe Company

Wesley United Church

Whitten Agencies
Winterholme

...and many, many more.

Holiday Food Donations

Throughout our Miracle on Cookstown Road campaign, the public donated a total of 12,280 pounds of food, valued at approximately $44,700! With the support of our volunteers, this food was quickly sorted and distributed to our neighbours throughout the holiday season.

We truly appreciate each and every person, group, and business who took the time to drop by with essential food and personal care items for our neighbours. Thank you!

January Food Pantry Wish List

Personal Care Items

Personal care supplies are everyday essentials. Items such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste are always in demand and help ensure our neighbours have access to basic necessities alongside food support.

Rice

Rice is a staple pantry item for many families who visit our food bank.

Whether long grain, brown, basmati, or instant, we'll put all types of rice to good use!

Canned Pasta

Canned pasta is a commonly requested ready-to-eat option for folks who visit our food bank, especially for those who do not have access to a full kitchen.

Volunteer Spotlight

Every day at Bridges to Hope, volunteers work tirelessly to deliver critical community support. Our mission would simply not be possible without this incredible team.

For the month of January, we’re highlighting Nathanael C.! Nathanael is one of our dedicated prep volunteers. On Thursday afternoons, Nathanael sorts food donations, portions bulk food items, and keeps the pantry organized and running smoothly.

We caught up with Nathanael to ask him about his volunteer involvement:

When did you start volunteering with Bridges to Hope?

I started volunteering with Bridges to Hope in July 2025.

What is your favourite part of volunteering at Bridges to Hope?
I enjoy being in a supportive environment and also a flexible schedule. I also learned a lot about how to work in the kitchen.

Tell us a fun fact about you!

I like vintage cars.

Thanks for being a part of our team, Nathanael. People like you make our community stronger!

Events & Updates

Special Meeting

Bridges to Hope will hold a special meeting of the members to approve proposed bylaw amendments on Monday, February 2, 2026.

The brief meeting will take place at 5:30 pm NDT via Zoom, and is open to members of the corporation, volunteers, community members, and any and all interested parties.

Only directors and other identified members who have voting rights are entitled to vote on any motions. The proposed changes will be circulated in advance to those who have expressed interest in attending. If you plan to attend please email info@bridgestohope.ca.

Join us in making a greater impact! Share our mission on social media and help us reach even more of our neighbours in need.

PS: If this email landed in your spam or promotions folder, please move it to your inbox or add us to your safe sender list so you don't miss future updates.

37 Cookstown Rd, St. John's NL A1C 4G7
info@bridgestohope.ca
(709) 722-9225

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