Our Volunteer and Community Supporters!

Meet Dawn!

 

Dawn is one of our dedicated volunteers, who we are so fortunate to have. After retiring, Dawn was seeking a volunteer opportunity that would allow her to serve children and families. Lucky for us, Dawn responded to a call for volunteers to facilitate our Healthy Kidz Lit-ART program.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Dawn's dedication to the children of Healthy Kidz has not wavered. Dawn read to the children on the phone, helped deliver food hampers to community members, and made homemade snacks for childrens' lunches and our after-school snack program.

"I enjoy being involved with an organization that focuses on improving the lives of children and their families through programming that builds their confidence and skills" says Dawn. "I believe that building reading skills and a love of books can provide a child with enjoyment, an escape in times of stress, and improve academic success. School lunches and snacks provide the fuel needed to be able to concentrate. There is an old saying - 'It takes a village to raise a child' and Family SOS is providing this village."

Dawn enjoys interacting with the children, families, and staff. "Over the last few years I have had the privilege of listening to a child tell me of her family’s refuge journey, learning that the tooth fairy takes the teeth left under the pillow and puts them in newborn babies, hearing from a young mom just how much the food baskets that were delivered in the height of COVID meant to her and her young children, and feedback from staff about how the children enjoyed the homemade goodies included with their lunch and snack packs." she says.

Dawn encourages others to volunteer with a local organization, saying "If we are going to make this world a better place we need to give a helping hand to others, and what better place to start than in the local community."

Double your Impact Today and Help Send a Kid to Camp!



Every year, Family SOS offers free Summer day camps and after school programs to kids and teens living in marginalized communities.

We are proud to offer these programs at no cost to participants. These programs help to build resiliency and leadership skills, providing our kids and teens with life experiences that they would not have access to otherwise. 

The opportunity to attend free after school and summer programs, especially for youth in marginalized communities provide a positive turning point and a community of lifelong friendships, peer support and skill development that lasts a lifetime. 

Teens and kids get to experience new adventures every day at Summer Camp. They go swimming, tour museums and other educational institutes, visit the zoo and camp at National Parks. They get healthy meals and snacks every day of program.

This year, we lost a significant funding partner and our summer camp is at risk. We need your help.

Today you can double your impact by making a donation to this life-changing program. Dollar for dollar, your donation will be matched by our generous partner Steele Auto Group to a maximum of $25,000!  You can help ensure our programs continue to provide our community with free programs that empower youth to succeed and become positive role models and leaders in our communities.

Please help send a kid to camp. Any amount helps.


3 Great Reasons to Join Us at the Courage to Give Back Awards

Be our guest! Come eat, drink and mingle while giving back to your community at the Courage to Give Back Awards Friday, February 1st at the Cunard Centre. This year we want you to suit up in Denim and Diamonds and join us for a compelling, entertaining and delectable night.

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What you’ll get

  • A delicious 3-course dinner

  • An entertaining live auction experience

  • A lively pre-event reception including an impressive silent auction

  • Moving stories from award recipients

  • Gratification for supporting kids and families in your city!

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Who You’ll Meet



This year, our ambassadors are Gracey and Rustum Southwell, advocates of diversity, development and capacity building in marginalized communities in Halifax since they arrived here from the Caribbean Island of Saint Kitts more than 40 years ago.

We present awards to local influential people who may not otherwise be recognized. You’ll network with people of all ages who make a point to give back to their communities. This year’s award recipients are Colette Robicheau, Troy Ryan, Stewart Zaun, Jodi Brown and Gordel Mercer.


How you’ll help


Proceeds from this event help us continue to provide the following programs:

  • Free after-school and summer programs for kids aged 6-17 living in marginalized communities in the HRM

  • In-Home Parenting Support and Positive Parenting groups

  • School-based programs which teach kids at more than 30 local schools about cyber bullying, mental health and healthy relationships

  • Beea Honey with Heart social enterprise

Hear heart-warming stories from influential people of all ages in Halifax, have a delicious meal and a magical evening, all while supporting Family SOS.

Celebrate and support your community -- buy a ticket to the Courage to Give Back Awards today. Hurry, tickets are going fast! It is guaranteed to be an uplifting and truly inspiring evening.


Welcome to our new website!

We are very excited to reveal our new and improved Family SOS website, meant to make locating resources, contacting us, and everything in between more accessible and user-friendly. We are pretty proud of the community that surrounds Family SOS and are ready to have this website tell our story.

So, take a peek around and meet our wonderful staff, see what we have to offer, and see how you can get involved. Check back for regular blog posts on what we have on the go and who we have to celebrate. Never hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions, or if you would like to see where you fit with Family SOS!