Donated Products Available

Gifts in Kind Canada is a non-profit organization that helps distribute donated products and services from leading corporations to organizations and individuals who need them. Since 1995, the organization has distributed more than $20 million in donated products and services to registered charities across Canada. An affiliate of the Gifts in Kind International, Gifts in Kind Canada now boasts 14 affiliates working with thousands of charitable organizations.

Products available include software, office products, building supplies, personal care items, arts and crafts materials, cosmetics, sports equipment, books, toys, school supplies, and many other items. Gifts in Kind Canada can also match charities with retailers in their area and help arrange for routine donations. Corporate participants include Office Depot, Adobe, IBM, Corel, The Gap, Disney Stores, Gillette, and more.

Charitable organizations must apply for membership and pay an annual registration fee. There is a small administration charge for donations, which covers shipping, storing, and processing of donated items. Donations must be used to operate offices or provide community services.

For more information, contact Gifts in Kind Canada at tel: 905-565-1009 or email: hzimmer@giftsinkindcanada.org or visit: www.giftsinkindcanada.org.

If you are looking for computer equipment, you may want to check out the "Computers for Schools" project. This a federal program that collects computers and donates them to schools, libraries and provincial/territorial employment and training programs across Canada. Visit http://cfs-ope.ic.gc.ca for more information.

Also try Reboot Canada, a non-profit organization that refurbishes computer equipment and distributes it to charitable organizations. Find out more at: www.reboot.on.ca.

News from Laubach Literacy of Canada

Congratulations to Laubach Literacy of Canada for being awarded the 2003 "Fitzpatrick Award" from Frontier College. The award, given each year to an organization doing excellent work in support of literacy, was presented at LLC's Annual General Meeting in September. "You and your colleagues at Laubach are doing important and innovative work for literacy in our country," said Executive Director John O'Leary in his presentation.

Laubach Literacy also reports that they recently welcomed Gay Hamilton as LLC's new Executive Director. Gay brings ten years of experience in the non-profit sector to her new work.

New Executive Director in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Literacy Development Council of Newfoundland and Labrador welcomes a new Executive Director, Kimberly Gillard, and bids a fond farewell to former Executive Director Della Coish.