A comprehensive list of ways you and local businesses can help give back to our wonderful community.
The holiday season is all about giving back. The weather is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and our community needs our help more than ever! Local businesses in Centretown have been working on ways to help out for years, and they can often use your support to do so. We at the Centretown BIA know how difficult it can be to know how to help and who to help, so we’ve put together this list of opportunities to support the community this holiday season!
Centre 507
Centre 507 is a local community organization that acts as an adult drop-in centre. This wonderful business works to provide a wide range of services based on the current needs of the community.
“In addition to providing nutritious meals seven days per week, Center 507 members also participate in several events within the Center and around Ottawa. Some recent activities include attending Ottawa 67’s games, beach days, banking classes and more!
Center 507 also provides access to community resources including resume help, tax and legal assistance, help with housing and other needs-based services.”
This excerpt from the Centre 507 website best describes their day to day operations, but how can you help?
Centre 507 is always accepting volunteers, and are in need of high impact donations like winter clothes, undergarments, and toiletries.
If you’re interested in getting involved with Centre 507, you can contact Elise Riddle at [email protected].
Highjinx
Next up is the local shop and community hub known as Highjinx. A space where owners Karen and Leigh want everyone to know they belong. Highjinx uses resources like community farm and community garden donations to help reduce the burden of everyday expenses like food. Their focus on being “neighbours who help neighbours” has been improving the life of Centretown residents since 2011.
Highjinx is looking for your help in the form of collecting sleeping bags, hand warmers, socks, home baking, frozen meals, and gift cards for neighbours (from places like Tim Hortons, Mcdonald’s, etc), as well as full-size toiletries and toilet paper.
The Ottawa Mission
The Ottawa Mission has been a leading driving force in helping the community for longer than most of us have been alive (January of 1907 to be exact), and their goal of making a difference has yet to slow down.
In the coming month or so, The Mission is shifting their focus to their Giving Tuesday gift matching campaign!
On December 1 and 2, and gifts made will be matched in totality by Dymon Storage, doubling your gifts impact! The Mission will also be hosting a live event with Chef Ric’s to culminate the event on December 2nd. You can make donations directly through ottawamission.ca
Operation Come Home
Operation Come Home is a formidable contributor to preventing youth homelessness in Ottawa. Their mission is to “prevent homeless youth from becoming homeless adults”. They are always accepting cash donations as a way to help give back, but are currently extremely low on winter jackets! If you live in the Centretown community, or are willing to visit Operation Come Home at their Centretown home – any gently used winter jackets would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be dropped off to their office anytime between 8am – 4:00pm on weekdays. They are also open in the morning on weekends, and you can reach them directly to come pick things up at [email protected]
Centretown Community Health Centre
Centretown Community Health Centre has been an active part of the community since 1969, providing a wide range of health and social services to support local residents.
Their non-profit services include doctors, nurses, social workers, counsellors, dietitians, health promoters, and outreach workers. The CCHC has a focus on servicing the unhoused community with services they otherwise would not be able to obtain.
We at Centretown managed to speak with their team, and one of their social worker staff members had this to say:
“Our program plays an essential role in supporting individuals who are vulnerable, unhoused, and coping with substance use and mental health challenges. We provide critical services and safe spaces during times when other programs are closed. Many of our clients visit our centre for safety, warmth—especially during the winter months—and access to medical and social supports.
Clients also rely on us for clean gear, snacks, and wraparound supports that help them maintain stability and dignity. Without our program, many would struggle to survive or access the vital resources they need.
Donations are instrumental in helping us provide clean and warm clothing, and other essential services that are otherwise limited or unavailable.”
If you are interested in supporting the CCHC you can make monetary donations at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/138796, which is the most flexible way to support the community. If you would rather donate physical items CCHC is currently accepting Winter jackets (New or lightly used), boots (New), large backpacks (New or lightly used), hats (New), gloves (New), and sleeping bags (New).
You can go to 420 Cooper Street and drop them off to General Reception, let them know it’s for the Urban Outreach Winter Supplies drive.
Centretown is an ever growing community that needs continuous support. Please consider helping us, and our local businesses give back to those who need it most this holiday season.
From Centretown, with love!
Author: Jordan Pizzuti
November 24, 2025
