Turkey Drive
Supporting house of friendship's
christmas food program
Thank you for your generous support in 2025!
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised more than $470,000 for the House of Friendship Christmas Food Program, helping provide food and holiday support to over 6,200 households and 20,670 individuals. That’s a 30% increase in reach over prior years! We are deeply grateful to everyone who donated, volunteered, and helped make this campaign such a success. Together, we made a meaningful difference for thousands of families in our community.
We look forward to connecting with you again during our 2026 season.
In the meantime, donations can be made year-round
through CanadaHelps by clicking on the button to the right
to continue supporting this important program
and the families who rely on it.
Donations can also be made immediately online at CanadaHelps by clicking on one of the “Donate” buttons.
Over 20 years feeding families in our region
Every December, there’s something magical about gathering around the table with loved ones for a holiday meal.
Whether your tradition includes turkey with all the fixings or something else, it means so much to enjoy it together.
But for many families in our community, that holiday feast is out of reach.
Today, 1 in 8 households in Waterloo Region don’t have enough income to feed their families. Even more sobering: 34% of food hamper recipients are children. And that reality hits even harder during the holiday season.
Since 2003, we have partnered with House of Friendship’s Christmas Food Program to provide a special holiday meal for community members in need, feeding nearly 5,000 households every year.
This year, we want to reach even more families, and we need your help to make that happen. Will you join us again by supporting the 24th annual Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club Turkey Drive?
Your support of our fund-raising campaign and the passionate work by the House of Friendship helps to address what is called a “Food Insecurity” issue facing many in Canada, including in our region. Click Research Report from the University of Toronto to see their research report about Food Insecurity.
This program is done with volunteers from the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club and many others with House of Friendship. This ensures the dollars you donate go to the people needing help.
Thank you for caring for our community,
Mike Gillespie
Turkey Drive Committee Chair, Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club
P.S. This year, the need is greater than ever. We must provide holiday meals for 1,750 more families than last year. Without your help, many will go without Christmas dinner. Please make your most generous gift today so every family has the chance to gather around the table this holiday season.
A year-round effort
by staff, volunteers and you
Your continued support helps families like Jitendra and Jen’s – and many more –enjoy a special meal this holiday season.
Families in need are counting on you.
Will you step up and join our community of caring, compassionate supporters who want to provide a holiday meal this December?
You can help families like Jitendra’s.
When his wife suffered a massive stroke when she was only 39, Jitendra’s life changed forever. He had to leave work to care for her and their children. He struggled to put food on the table, but because of your support, Jitendra and his family received a holiday meal
“I’m trying to be there for my wife and my two angels,”said Jitendra. “Not having to worry about food makes it easier.”
Your generosity today will also help people like Jen, who lives with epilepsy, making it difficult to find work to support her family. She depends on food hampers to make ends meet, and never has enough money left over to make the holidays special for her family.
“When I only have $300 a month for food, there’s no way a turkey is even an option.”
