Non-profit, grassroots groups invited to be part of giving guide

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The holiday season means increased needs for many non-profit and grassroots organizations and collectives.

Their needs range from volunteer roles to financial contributions and donations of goods.

The University of Guelph’s Student Volunteer Connections (SVC) group is working on its annual Holiday Giving Guide, a digital publication that connects people with organizations in need of support.

Jess Dettweiler is a programming and events assistant at SVC, where she is completing a co-op placement.

Dettweiler, who went to elementary school in Elora before attending high school in Guelph and then studying international development with a specialization in food security and agriculture at the university, has taken on putting together the guide this year.

As of Nov. 3, Dettweiler said SVC had 22 submissions for the guide, with hopes of surpassing last year’s total of 31 organizations and collectives featured.

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The guide is important, she said, because so many groups face challenges in getting the word out about their heightened needs over the winter holiday season.

A broad spectrum of groups are included, Dettweiler noted, which offer a wide range of services to the community.

“Depending on what people are interested in getting involved in or giving donations to, there are a whole range of places to look through,” she said.

This year’s guide already includes new organizations the SVC hasn’t previously worked with, as well as organizations they have worked with but haven’t before featured in the guide.

Dettweiler is hoping to see more new groups reach out.

Organizations included thus far include Hope House, Guelph Wellington Family and Children’ Services, Hospice Wellington and the Downtown Guelph Business Association, Dettweiler said.

She’s hopeful more grassroots organizations that may not be registered non-profits reach out to be included in the guide.

“We are trying to find the ones that are really doing work on the ground,” Dettweiler said.

SVC hopes to have lots of smaller groups included in the guide, she said, as the organizations still make significant impacts and it can be harder for them to promote independently.

Dettweiler said it’s an easy process for organizations to be included in the guide.

They need to fill out a simple form at tinyurl.com/ym5nmxbc or email Dettweiler directly at svc@uoguelph.ca with a description of the organization and its mission along with details about its needs over the holiday season, whether that is money, items, volunteers or a combination of the three.

Before the guide is published, SVC contacts the organization to review the details and get final approval “to make sure we reflected their needs and wishes accurately,” Dettweiler said.

She noted groups are also welcome to reach out about getting involved with SVC in other ways throughout the year.

They support non-profit and grassroots groups with student volunteer placement programs and group volunteer days, she said, and can also promote events on social media and internal platforms to advertise programs and initiatives to the university’s community.

The deadline to be included in the Holiday Giving Guide is Nov. 7, and the guide is set to be released at the end of the month.

For last year’s Holiday Giving Guide, visit uoguelph.ca/experiential-learning/news/2024/holiday-giving-guide.