Executive Director & President of the Board's Message

Change is expected in life and can bring with it many challenges, both professionally and personally. This past year has definitely been one of change here at Neighbour to Neighbour Centre, but through change we see growth, opportunity and new beginnings.

In 2018, we were saddened to see three longtime employees leave the organization. Clare Wagner, Manager of Community Food, who was an integral part in the creation of the Hamilton Community Food Centre, moved to Kitchener-Waterloo. Our longtime Manager of Administrative Services, Linda Jagodich retired and moved out west to spend more time with her family. Samantha Lycklama our Accounting Associate left to pursue new endeavors as an entrepreneur.

Although saddened to be losing such key members, we were thrilled to have attracted such wonderful replacements to our team. Heather Moroz, accepted the position of Manager of Administrative Services and Laura Ryan as Manager of Family Services. Both of these individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to N2N Centre. During this period there was also some restructuring of positions. Krista D’Aoust broadened her portfolio from Director of Family Services to Director of the Community Food Centre and Family Services, Amy Angelo became the Manager of Food Access and Food Skills and the accounting piece for N2N Centre was contracted out to Charity Accounts Inc. In addition, N2N Centre also hired a long-awaited Director of Development, Robyn Knickle.

This past year has also been an opportunity for the organization to re-imagine its digital footprint. After many years, we launched a bright, informative and badly needed new website to better reflect our new branding and develop new ways to present ourselves to the community. We also enhanced our social media footprint, gaining thousands of followers across multiple platforms to better reflect how we communicate to our community and in turn how our community can respond to our calls for action.

In the last year we were notified that we successfully secured a capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. In 2019, the 28 Athens property will have repairs made to its external walls and stairwells, complete repaving of its driveway and a walk-in freezer and commercial coolers added to the foodbank area. Funding was also received to build an outdoor brick oven at the Community Food Centre at 310 Limeridge Road West.

With a three-year strategic plan coming to a close, the Board and staff congregated once again to plan for years 2019-2022. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified in determining strategic direction over the next three years. Focus will be given to enhancing marketing, social justice, developing resources, innovative programing and strong leadership. We’re proud of the work put into our strategic plan and look forward to sharing our vision with the community.

We want to thank all of our donors for allowing us to serve the community in new ways while staying true to our values and beliefs. Please, have a look at what we were up to this year.