What is the Gift Card Program?
With record increases in child and family poverty in Toronto, many families served by the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CCAS) have struggled to afford food, diapers, formula, personal care items and basic household needs. Your donations provide families with gift cards from Canadian retailers so they can provide for their children, preventing a temporary cash shortfall from snowballing.
How it helps:
Vulnerable families need a hand
Toronto is the child poverty capital of Canada, and the depth of poverty is growing, particularly among low-income, one-parent, Indigenous, racialized, immigrant and newcomer children. Gift cards from the CCAF offer a lifeline for CCAS-involved families, who are challenged by financial instability, unemployment, education gaps and mental health concerns.
Your impact:
CCAF-funded gift cards cover unexpected needs that fall through the cracks
Gift cards don’t just deliver financial aid—they offer stability, dignity and hope. Thanks to donors like you, CCAF-funded gift cards have:
- Helped an unemployed mother buy a stroller or her toddler after escaping from domestic violence.
- Filled the lunch boxes of children who recently arrived in Canada, but whose family hadn’t yet qualified for community support.
- Been a godsend for a single mom who was unable to work while caring for her teenage daughter with cancer.
Read more inspiring stories

Joyce’s & Ann’s story: Cribs kept their babies safe
Sweet Dreams program helps reduce the risk of SIDS to babies without a safe sleeping environment

Dr. Hugh Siddall: a champion of kids in care for 50+ years
Physician’s scholarship for youth extends his five decades of care for young people involved with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto

A helping hand for young mom Valeria* and her toddler
Donor support helped avert a crisis and gave this mother important skills, resources and community to provide for her child
See more programs

Sweet Dreams
Providing new cribs, toddler beds and sleepwear to keep vulnerable little ones safe

Camps 4 Kids
CCAF donors help send Toronto children and youth in care to overnight and day camps

Ignite The Spark
We cover enrolment costs for sports, arts and recreation fees so kids and youth can learn and have fun pursuing their passions