mission

To prevent hunger in children and lower health risks by providing free Infant and children's essentials to families in need.

our board

Our founder

Because NO child should have to go without

VALUES

We believe: Everyone is treated equally, without prejudice or judgement. All qualifying families are offered assistance

RAVEN VAN BOMMEL 

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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 it's 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 it's 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. 

   

Essential Aid and Family Services of Ontario Inc.

Registered Charity #82522 7648 RR0001

VISION

We envision a community where all families  have viable access to the essential items needed for their children.

our History

  • Alex Vourkoutiotis, Chair
  • Raven van Bommel, Executive Director, Treasurer
  • Nick Genovese, Secretary
  • Frances Alongi, Director
  • Cristina Cioca, Director



While clutching my arm, in tears, a young mother explains that she has been adding extra water to her baby's bottles to try and make her infant formula stretch until payday. She tells me she doesn't "need" the diapers I am offering, says she can do without diapers but is desperate for Formula as she can not do without feeding her baby. 


That was the moment, when I handed her the formula and diapers, that I vowed to stop at nothing until no mother would be forced to choose. That no child would have to go without.