How 2 Help

People get involved in charities for a number of reasons. Most often people want to give something back to the community that has afforded them the lifestyle they have become accustomed to. They also want to help those less fortunate than themselves. THN was started for much the same reason.

There are many ways to help The Hope Network meet its goals and to fulfill a mandate to help those in need and the agencies on the front lines who support them. Those of you who are looking for ways to become more active in your community will find THN is a great place to start making a difference.

• Advertising Sponsorship opportunities – The Hope Network is a streamlined all volunteer Not For Profit Organization with a single Administrative employee, based in Toronto Ontario with a Satellite office in Dominica. While we endeavor to keep costs low and divert the lion share of revenues towards or ongoing efforts to support those most in need of our programs and services, we require additional revenues to pay for advertising, website maintenance and program roll out. To offset these costs we have devised three advertising programs for our corporate sponsors. For more information on these programs please scroll to the Advertising section below.
• Direct Donations – The Hope Network is an independent Not For Profit Organization with a mandate to help those most in need. Independent means we do not receive any Government investment into our ongoing services and programs. We also do not receive any money from grants or other bursaries, nor do we charge for any service we provide our clients or the agencies we aid on an ongoing basis. We are wholly dependent on direct donations, fundraising and sponsorships to fund our local and international operations. For more information on ways you can donate to THN and help us continue vital services and programs, please scroll to the Donations section below.
• Fundraising – Fundraising is a significant way we obtain money for our ongoing operations at The Hope Network. Through special events and ongoing fundraising efforts we generate operating capital to support our programs and services to those in need. For more information on fundraising events and programs within THN, please scroll to the Fundraising section below.
• Volunteering – The Hope Network is actively engaged in promoting volunteerism as an essential part of spiritual growth, life long learning and in raising awareness of the unique power of service. We offer diverse opportunities for effective local volunteering for persons of any age, socio-economic capacity and background. We connect people with opportunities to serve through education, recruitment and referral of volunteers both locally and internationally, within THN and the front line agencies we serve. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please scroll to the Fundraising section below.
• Organizing – Organizing with THN is all about mobilizing your local community in ways which strengthen relationships while serving others locally and internationally. This is an opportunity for your local group to participate in the work we do for those most in need. Our Executive Director can help your group get started, just book an appointment and we will assist your group mobilize for service. Please scroll to the community organizing section below, to learn more.
• Learning – Our volunteers are also dedicated life long learners. Service is a gift that keeps on giving, that is why it’s never too early or late to get started. For more information on educational opportunities, please scroll to the Learning section below.

Advertising Sponsorship Opportunities

1. Website sponsorship – The Hope Network website is built on a custom WordPress template that can currently support two sponsorship advertisements. We are seeking corporate sponsors for both our primary and secondary ad boxes. Ads will run for a period of three months to one year. Our primary ad placement is prominently located on the left hand side of our homepage and can support both static or dynamic ads that are 294px × 200px. Our secondary ad placement appears on the right of each page of our site, and provides maximum static ad exposure to the sponsor. Secondary ad space supports a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)  image that is 294px × 200px. All revenues generated from the website sponsorship program goes directly to the maintenance, hosting and development of our main website www.thehopenetwork.org. (Learn more)
2. Donation can sponsorship – In June 2009 we will be launching our donation can program. We are currently seeking sponsors who wish to place a logo advertisement on each can. We have made space for ten logo advertisements on each donation can. Their are 100 donation cans in each lot, and each logo will appear on at least 100 cans. The proceeds form the advertisers will support the programs acquisition, promotion, distribution and collection. The proceeds from what we collect in the cans will go directly to our programs to aid the poor. If you are interested in securing a placement for your companies logo, please contact us by June 15th 2009. (Learn more)
3. TTC advertising sponsorship – Fall 2009 The Hope Network will be launching an ongoing advertising campaign with the Toronto Transit Commission. We will be placing advertisements for THN in buses, streetcars and subways. TTC ridership is expected to increase by about 10 million this year, bringing the total number of people riding the rocket to between 452 million and 454 million. Also Premier McGuinty and the Ontario Government’s Move Ontario initiative will start this fall. Because of this we expect a great response from this campaign, which presents a fantastic opportunity for our sponsors. To cover the cost of design, printing and placing these ads we have decided to seek sponsors to help us fund our ad campaign. In exchange for sponsorship we will provide prominent logo placement and sponsor recognition on each ad we place. The number of ads we can place depends upon the sponsorship response we receive. For our initial foray into this medium we are seeking to place 100 ads. (Learn more)

Direct Donations

1. Monetary Donation – We accept cash, cheques, money orders, and credit card payments over the phone or via PayPal donations online. Through PayPal we accept VISA, Master Card and American Express. Monetary donations may also be sent to The Hope Network by mail or can be picked up or dropped off at the following locations.
2. Gift in kind – The term gift in kind refers to a gift of property other than cash - in particular capital property, depreciating property and personal-use property. It also includes a residual interest, a right of any kind, a license, a share, and inventory of a business. It does not include a gift of services. If you wish to make a Gift in Kind to Us their is a specific procedure that we must follow. First we need the original value of the item, and a full description including make, model, year of manufacture and current condition of the item, including current value.
3. Targeted donation – Self care essentials, clothing, food, shelter related services

Fundraising

1. Special Fundraising Events – The Hope Network organizes special fundraising events in the community on a regular basis. All events are posted on our Events page. On May 30th 2009 we held our first  fundraising concert of 2009 at Westminster Chapel It was a great success. We will be hosting 3 fundraising concerts per year, the next one is scheduled for fall 2009. Other special events include our annual general meeting dinner benefit, and our yearly charity auction.
2. World’s Finest Chocolates – We work with World’s Finest Chocolate Canada Company as they are the clear leader in chocolate fundraising. World’s Finest Chocolates has been servicing Canadian organizations since 1958. They produce chocolate from scratch, in a Peanut Free Facility, from the cocoa bean and the finest ingredients. All chocolates are either Peanut and Nut Free or Peanut Free. Their  products page boasts an extensive offering of treats.We have several World’s Finest Chocolates fundraisers each year. To find out when see our Events page.
3. Donation Can Program – Do you own, know of or patronize a business in the Toronto or surrounding area that would be interested in hosting a THN donation can? These donation cans help fundraising for The Hope Network with thousands of dollars each year and also help promote THN to the public. If you are able to help in our donation can program by becoming a sponsor location please contact our Executive Director at Phone ~ (416)467-3638, Email ~ info@thehopenetowrk.org.
4. Fund Flowers – Fund Flowers is a Not For Profit with a unique approach to selling flowers. “We donate 100% of our profit to the Community! Your Toronto group can earn thousands of dollars by simply having your members and supporters purchase Toronto flowers, Toronto gift baskets, Toronto balloon arrangements, Toronto chocolates and other gift items from us. Take advantage of our tax free all inclusive prices. What you see is what you pay!” Tax free flowers can be purchased for most any occasion. Please visit our website when you need flowers for that special occasion. (Valentines Day)
5. Promotional Items – Almost anything can be branded with The Hope Networks name and/or logo and used for promotion. Some common items available include t-shirts, caps, posters, bumper stickers, pens, mugs. All promotional items will become available through our online store. For more information as to availability and cost, please contact us.
6. Memberships – To be announced.

Volunteering – All Job postings

1. Donations Sorting Team Leads – Donations are gathered by THN and delivered to the 3 team leads (food, clothing and daily living essentials) for sorting on a regular basis. Each teams activities are organized by a team lead who works directly with the executive director of THN. Each team lead will inform the ED when donations are ready for pick up. New donations will be dropped off at the same time. The team leads will also build and maintain groups of volunteers to help with sorting activities as needed. A list of all available volunteers will be made available to each team lead upon request as is a full list of team lead job description. Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
2. Donations Sorting Team Member – Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
3. Street Mission Team Leads – Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position. 
4. Street Mission Worker – Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
5. Fundraising Team Leads – Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
6. Fundraising Team Member – Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
7. Events Team Coordinator – Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
8. Donations Team Coordinator – Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
9. Legal Representative – Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
10. Board Member - Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.
11. Board Officer - Job descriptions include all required documentation, requisite supplies, storage requirements, reporting structure, responsibilities, contingencies, time commitment and tenure. This is a voluntary position.

Organizing

1. Clean out your closet – If you want to help those in need, and get your closets and drawer space organized at the same time, this is the program for you. All you need to get started is a little will power and we can supply you with the boxes. We can walk you through the process step by step. Once you are done you can drop off the clothes you don’t need or we can sometimes arrange to have them picked up if you are in a group. (Learn more)
2. Organizing a marketing material distribution campaign – THN is a small organization with a big heart for the poor. We regularly distribute donation request letters to retailers, wholesalers and manufactures of food, clothing and daily living essentials. What we have found is the best way to canvas is in a group. No experience is necessary, just willing hearts and willing hands. Full training is available free of charge. (Learn more)
3. Organize a clothing drive – Organizing a clothing drive through your school, workplace or organization can be a great way to build team spirit and help those in need at the same time. We can walk you through each step of the process and even supply you with all the materials you will need. Once you are done you can drop off the clothes or we can sometimes arrange to have them picked up if you are in a group. (Learn more)
4. Organize a self care essentials drive – Organizing a self care essentials drive through your school, workplace or organization can be a great way to build team spirit and help those in need at the same time. We can walk you through each step of the process and even supply you with all the materials you will need. We even have a list of specific items that those we serve ask for most often, like soap and toothpaste. Once you are done you can drop off the products you have gathered or we can sometimes arrange to have them picked up if you are in a group. (Learn more)
5. Organizing a THN Mission Team – THN Mission Teams go out weekly to distribute Food, Clothing and the self care essentials for daily living. We visit shelters and drop in centers and those we meet on the road. We offer encouragement and listen to the issues that they have. We aren’t their to be councilors but friends. We are currently looking to expand our program and to work with other organizations offering similar services to the poor to standardize what is distributed and when, while also eliminating the waste of several organizations visiting the same places while other areas of the city go unserviced. Street Missions work is probably the most rewarding part of what we do at THN, because of the relationships we build with the communities we serve. (Learn more)
6. Organizing a Project Hope For Haiti Donation Drive – Project Hope For Haiti is perhaps our most ambitious project to date. While we have been working in the Caribbean Region for years, in Countries like Jamaica and Dominica, we have not been able to mount a foray into Haiti because of that islands unique challenges. We have been looking into the needs of the Haitian island since fall of 2008 and have come up with a plan to send relief supplies to this beleaguered Island Nation. Our Mission Statement is WE GIVE OUR BEST TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST, and none in this hemisphere need more assistance than the Haitian People. Yet to make this project a success we will need the assistance of many community organizations, churches and corporate backers to gather the required materials, transport them and deliver them to the Haitian People. We have identified the three main areas of need that we can meet with this first time effort. These are health and hygiene supplies, clothing and food. For More information on this projects development please visit our THN International page.

Learning

1. Volunteer training program – For adults, high school and college age youth. An introductory training program to provide youth exposure to the not-for-profit sector, particularly street missions and drop in center experience.
2. Evaluate, Plan, Serve and Follow Up – Online learning material for those who wish to become effective front line care providers, must first understand the THN service model. Our model is a simplification of various social science models, particularly “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”. Understanding that in order to achieve self actualization, one must first have self esteem. Similarly to be loved and have a sense of belonging one must first exists in a place of safety, and before one can be safe, one must be physiologically sound. This is why we concentrate first on the foundational needs of Food, Shelter, Clothing and the essentials. To build a persons capacity to feel safe, loved, esteem and finally to acheinve self purposed goals. Simply put, we belive in a ground up aproach to social service, meeting people where they are without judgemnet, and starting from their with the end result of the individual taking total charge of His/Her personal destiny.
3. Food Handling Guidelines -THN has created a set of food handling guidelines for use by all members and volunteers who will be handling food on behalf of THN. This includes those who prepare, distribute food. The following are our minimum standards for food handling by any person(s) involved with the preparation and or distribution of fresh food and produce on behalf of The Hope Network. These standards have been adapted from the Public Health Authorities to avoid possibility of illness and other negative ramifications resulting from the distribution of contaminated food.