Mission

2011 - Raven van Bommel provides diapers and formula to a family in need for the first time, her life changes forever and her mission to ensure no child goes without begins.

2012 - Offering supplies out of her home, Raven reaches out to families in need and an informal non-profit organization is born.

2013 - Essential Aid and Family Services of Ontario Inc. incorporates as a non-profit charitable organization and opens the doors to the Infant Food Bank in downtown Hamilton.

2014 - Essential Aid becomes a Registered Charity and, with the incredible efforts of dedicated volunteers, continues to grow to reach out to hundreds of children each month.

2015 - Continuing on its path of exponential growth, Essential Aid's volunteer team reaches over 20 members and distributes over 50,000 diapers during the year. 

2016 - With the help of a corporate payroll sponsorship, Essential Aid welcomes its very first staff member, Kimberly Pruden, as Program Manager.

2017 - Essential Aid opens the doors to a much needed larger space and new Centre and continues to reach the community needs by developing and implementing new programs. Community Support Coordinator, Jennifer Hamu, joins the team as a part-time staff member.

2018/2019 - Our reach extends and EA continues supporting the most vulnerable infants and toddlers in Hamilton and surrounding areas.

2020 - Essential Aid responds to the COVID-19 pandemic and distributes over 98,000 diapers to local children in need.

2021 - Essential Aid continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and distributes over 158,000 diapers to local children in need. With support from the Canada Summer Jobs Program, 3 students join the team for summer.

2022/2023 - With the increase in cost of living, Essential Aid serves a record high number of families. Hamilton and surrounding areas now rely on Essential Aid more than ever. Serving over 500 children each month, the team is working tirelessly to ensure no child is turned away.

2024 - As the demand continues to increase at an unprecedented rate, we continue to work harder than ever to fundraise, advocate and extend our reach in effort to maintain program viability.