Filling the gap between surplus and need is the work of the Thomas Sill Foundation’s gifts-in-kind project. Companies and individuals are kind (pardon the pun) enough to provide assets that are then distributed to the members of the program. Products, which can be new or used, include computers, furniture, clothing, toiletries and so on.

Members must be registered charities. They pay an annual fee which ranges from $65 to $250 depending on the agency’s annual budget. To encourage membership the first year’s fee is waived. Last year 281 charities were members.

During 2008-09 this program distributed $803,000 worth of various commodities to registered charities. Those agencies paid only $105,000 in handling charges to receive these goods. Since the beginning of this project in 1995, items valued at $12,357,000 have been acquired by charities throughout Manitoba.

Without donors this project would not exist. Our thanks to the 2008-09 contributors: