In order to ensure the well-being of our clients, we’ve taken on the responsibility of helping provide for their basic needs. We’ve also created programs dedicated to empowering them to become self-sufficient. Because of the constantly increasing number of people who came to us for help, it was necessary for us to relocate to a larger building to meet everyone’s needs. Until this move to the new 423 Erie Street location, we were able to meet those needs through the generous, unsolicited gifts from individuals, businesses, and churches of our community. On average, anywhere between 50 to 60 clients come to the House of Blessing in need of our services each day. And this number is always growing. Our client base has nearly doubled in the last year.

In order to continue improving the quality of care the House of Blessing is renown for, we’ve recently added two new staff to our family, a Services Coordinator and a Resource Development Assistant. These positions will be vital in sustaining all of our current services, as well as developing new programs to help reach our clients’ goals of self-sufficiency. We are constantly trying to find ways to improve the stability in our clients’ lives.

We are eager to start using our new facility to its full capacity. Thanks to the many supporters in our community, we have been blessed with donations of over $340,000 to be put toward our new building. However, $46,000 is still necessary to cover the remaining renovation costs, and we still have a mortgage of $255,000. Once these renovations are complete, our entire lower floor will be available for our clients. With an expanded food bank, clothing cupboard, and furniture storage area, we will be able to meet the increasing demand of our services for many years to come. We are also looking forward to using our lower level to house new programs dedicated to improving the lives of our clients.

Your tax-deductible donations ($10 minimum) will provide us with the invaluable resources that help us care for our deserving clients.

If you wish to give online, you can click the Donate Now button graciously provided to us by CanadaHelps.org.

Gift Planning is designed to help you plan your gift to the House of Blessing in a manner that will be most beneficial to you and your family, as well as providing a lasting impact on the lives of the needy and working poor in our community. Planned Gifts can be either outright gifts or deferred gifts. Gift Planning can maximize your available tax, financial, and estate benefits. Not only can you ensure that your personal and financial objectives are met, but gift planning enables you to increase your gift potential by looking at other ways of giving, and can also help maintain and protect your personal security and that of your heirs. Your gift, large or small, will make a difference and will help the House of Blessing continue its mission to provide for and educate the working poor of our community.

If you have any questions about gift planning, or request further information on how you can make a difference, call us at the House of Blessing (519) 273-3433. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with the resources to make your gift a meaningful one.

Financial Planning Strategies for Gifting Money to a Charity like the House of Blessing

* Involves tax-advantaged strategies using life insurance and annuities

* Gifts can be an immediate benefit to the charity or deferred (and the same goes with the donor's tax credit).

* Gifts during a donor's lifetime receive tax relief for donations up to 75% of net income, while estate gifts have a donation claim limit of 100% of net income.

* Life insurance has gifts payable directly to the charity so there's no probate, administration fees or taxes. The donor receives a charitable tax receipt in the estate for the amount that goes to the charity. This method is for estate planning since a lump sum is left to the charity (charities) in the estate and a tax credit is available up to 100% of net income. E.g. If a client has $150,000 in estate taxes due to RRSP tax on $300,000, then a $300,000 Joint Last to Die Estate Insurance vehicle can be left to a charity and offset the tax owing (no money goes to government for taxes, the charity receives a $300,000 gift and the client's family receives the full value of the estate since the government obtains nothing.................powerful planning!!)

* If clients wish to receive a tax-break each year on their premium they pay to the charitble insurance plan then the charity is the owner and beneficiary of the policy.

* Charitable Annuities are known as Reinsured Annuities. Typically the charity receives 25% to 35% of the donation and the remainder is used to purchase an annuity that provides an income to the donor for life. The money the charity receives initially will allow the donor to receive a tax receipt immediately.

* An Insured Annuity (also known as a Back to Back) is when a client uses non-registered dollars that are in a taxable area to invest into an annuity. The prescribed tax status causes lower tax payable then a regular GIC investment and provides greater return on your money then a GIC investment. The income from the annuity is then used to fund a Charitable Insurance Plan.

If you have any inquiries about this type of planning you may contact:

Mark R. Schultz B. Comm. CFP

Certified Finacial Planner at (519)271-0740 Ext. 229

E-mail - mark.r.schultz@clarica.com

www.clarica.com/mark.r.schultz

We have a clothing drop-off box at the side of our building and we’ll gladly accept any article of gently-used clothing you wish to part with. We also have a sheltered drop-off area behind our building that anyone in our community can leave good quality furniture and other working household items like appliances, dishes, pots, and toys.

All of our donations need to be carefully sorted, inspected, and be in good condition according to government standards. All excess clothes are shipped to 24 underdeveloped countries. We strive to use as much of the donations we graciously receive as we possibly can.

All donations are gladly accepted during our office hours, weekdays 10am to 4pm.

· Single Beds, Double beds,Chest of Drawers·
· Coffee tables, end tables, entertainment centres ·
· Good-working appliances ·
· Diapers (sizes1, 3, 4, 5) ·
· Baby food & formula (Nestle, Enfalac, Enfamil) ·
· Personal Care Products ·
· Jam, peanut butter, margarine ·
· Pots & pans ·
· Powdered milk ·
· Kraft Dinner ·
· Tuna & Salmon ·
· Pasta & Sauce ·
· Canned vegetables & fruit ·