Dear current and potential supporters of the St. Nicholas Fund,

As the year comes to a close and a new Season of Hope is upon us we wish to share an overview of how the St. Nicholas Fund has provided timely, nimble, boots-on-the- ground assistance and pastoral care to the most vulnerable in our community.

Over the past 25 years, with help of compassionate and generous donors we have raised and given away over 3 million dollars since this program started.

Recipients: a wide range of individuals and smaller charitable organizations whose efforts directly aid single parents, women, children, seniors, veterans refugees, bursaries for low-income students in college, immigrants, those struggling with homelessness, addiction, loneliness, mental illness, and food shortages.  

Needs covered: healthier food, music lessons, theater tickets, short term housing or rent, mental and physical health services, counseling, addiction programs, safe houses (for abuse and sex trafficking victims), bursaries for tuition, retirement planning, medical expenses, emergency assistance and short term jobs to name a few.

The program is sponsored by City in Focus which covers all overhead and is  supported by a growing number of donors in the province who see the need for touching individual lives as Saint Nicholas did in his time. 

Below are some examples of the many recipients for 2024. Most of these gifts are directed to over 100 individual recipients

From a mother who recently immigrated from the Ukraine whose oldest daughter needed finances for her last year of tuition for college:

“I'm writing to express my big gratitude for your support to my daughter and me. As a single mother, your assistance has been a true blessing and a testament to God's love in action.  Your work for families like ours is invaluable. I believe the good you do will be returned many times over, as the Scripture says: "Give, and it will be given to you." (Luke 6:38) Thank you for making a significant difference in our lives. Your kindness will never be forgotten.  With my deepest appreciation and blessings.”

From a single grandmother who raises her grandson alone because the mother died of an overdose, and the father is an addict:

“Thank you so very much for your assistance in offering to help this year. The money will be used wisely for Christmas and for soccer shoes and a portion will be for my grandson to donate to a charity for children in greater need. We love you and thank you for your continued caring”

Others individuals we have helped are a former sex worker now with a deep faith who is a single mom with several children and an elderly woman to find simple income sources to meet her day to day needs. These are just a few of the individual stories whose lives have been touched by our donors.

Request

Our goal annually is to raise between 100K -150K for the St Nicholas Fund by year end.

Please consider beginning or continue to support this fund as we prepare for Christmas and 2025. 

Blessings,

Tom Cooper
President of City in Focus Foundation