PROGRAMS

PACK-A-SACK​

Each September, thousands of children in Ottawa return to school without backpacks and proper school supplies. The OCH Foundation’s Pack-a-Sack program purchases supplies and backpacks for children living in Ottawa Community Housing so they can return to school equipped and ready to learn.
  • This year, over 1,000 backpacks have been packed with school supplies for children and youth ranging from kindergarten to grade 9.

  • We were able to purchase over $36,000 worth of school supplies to be distributed to families living in OCH.

  • It costs between $45 – $65 to equip children and older youth with the back-to-school supplies they need for proper learning (backpack, markers, pencils, erasers, ruler, scissors, etc.).

  • The median income of families living in OCH is approximately $19,200 per year meaning that many families struggle to cover the cost of back-to-school supplies for their children.
Since 2014, the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation’s Pack-a-Sack program has supported thousands of children, youth and their families living in OCH neighborhoods. We partner with the Caring and Sharing Exchange, a local organization that performs a coordination and distribution service to ensure the even dissemination of school essentials to families in need.

This program is possible thanks to our community partners and sponsors; The Caring and Sharing Exchange, Khalsa Aid Ottawa, Hydro Ottawa, Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, Tasico Hospitality, Active Youth Ottawa, Giant Tiger, Ottawa Polic Service, St Laurent Centre, Régimbal Group and The Coalition of Community Houses.

If you would like to organize a Pack-a-Sack fundraiser on behalf of the OCH Foundation, please reach out to us at info@ochfoundation.ca.

Thank you for your support!