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The Refuge Basket

The Refuge Basket is a not for profit organization based in Ottawa, Canada, dedicated to restoring dignity, hope, and belonging to newcomers, and low income families. Through the power of community donations, we provide essential clothing, food, employment information and housing support to those rebuilding their lives. We collect gently used household items, thoughtfully clean and prepare them, and redistribute them as baskets of comfort or offer them at low cost to help sustain our mission. Every basket we deliver carries more than supplies; it carries the message that no one should have to start over empty handed.

Our Story

The Refuge Basket began with a simple idea: connect those who have enough with those who need a new beginning. What started with a single basket of donated items quickly grew into a movement powered by volunteers, donors, and partners who believe in a stronger, more inclusive Ottawa.

Today, our work is woven through neighborhoods, shelters, and community spaces. Each family we help adds to a growing circle of generosity, a proof that small acts, multiplied, can change lives.

Our Values
We are guided by three core values that shape every decision and action:

• Compassion: Every act of kindness matters.

• Sustainability: We reduce waste through thoughtful redistribution.

• Innovation: We find creative ways to meet urgent needs.


Together, We Build Bridges

We are more than a service. We are a bridge between those who give and those who hope. With every donation, every volunteer hour, and every partnership, we’re creating pathways from hardship to healing, and from survival to belonging.

Join us. Together, we can make sure starting over never means starting from nothing.


1

Our Mission Statement

At The Refuge Basket, we transform what others might overlook into lifelines of hope. Through every basket of clothing, food, and essential support, we restore dignity to newcomers and families starting over. Each delivery carries a simple truth: You are seen. You are valued. You belong.

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Our Vision Statement

We envision a world where small acts mend broken stories, where kindness outruns hardship, and where every basket becomes a bridge. Turning survival into belonging and despair into dignity.

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Our Goal

Our goal is simple but unshakable: To build a circle of kindness that never breaks. The Refuge Basket isn’t just what we give - it’s the legacy we build, together.