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Core Values

1. Compassion - We respond with empathy and kindness to the needs of children, families and individuals in our community.

2. Dignity - We believe every person deserves respect, care and opportunities to thrive, no matter their circumstances.

3. Inclusivity - We welcome and celebrate all people, creating spaces where everyone feels they belong.

4. Community Connection - We strengthen neighourhoods by bringing people together through events, programs, and shared support.

5. Generosity - We give freely our time, talents, and resources, and we encourage out members and volunteers to give back in ways that uplift others.

6. Integrity - We act with honesty, transparency, and accountability in all that we do.

7. Resilience & Hope - We strive to build a brighter future by offering relief in the moment and fostering long-term strength in our community.

About Us

Member of Provincial Parliament Recognition Award

Recognized for Our Work in the Community

On September 14, 2026, A Little Relief was honoured to receive a certificate of recognition from MPP Mike Schreiner, recognizing our work within the Guelph community.

The recognition celebrates A Little Relief’s ongoing commitment to supporting families, children, and other community members who may be experiencing difficult times. From our Christmas Wishes Program and Back-to-School initiatives to clothing, community events, and other forms of support, our goal has always been simple: to provide a little relief when it is needed most.

We are incredibly grateful for this recognition and for everyone who makes our work possible — our volunteers, sponsors, community partners, donors, and the many people who continue to support A Little Relief.

This recognition belongs to all of you, too. 💚

The Guelph Mayor's Award

 One of our Many Recognition/Nomination letters for the Mayor's award

City of Guelph 2025 Mayor’s Awards:

Volunteer Award Nomination for Cheryl Steffer Emond from A Little Relief – Guelph

As a dedicated volunteer, reflection has always been an important part of my journey. Among all the people who have influenced my understanding of service, Cheryl Steffer Emond stands out as one of the greatest examples of community building and leadership. It is my honour to nominate Cheryl Steffer Emond for this Volunteer Award in recognition of her extraordinary dedication, compassion, and service to the Guelph community.

Cheryl, who studied at the University of Guelph and now leads the nonprofit organization A Little Relief- Guelph, has spent the past few years creating opportunities, support, and joy for the Guelph community through countless free events and programs. Her work is dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, mental-health challenges, and crisis.

Through A Little Relief, Cheryl has organized a wide range of impactful community programs, each one thoughtfully created to lift burdens, spread joy, and strengthen the sense of belonging within the community. These initiatives include Mother’s and Father’s Day vendor markets, Halloween celebrations, The Magic of Christmas, Toy drives, Easter basket programs, affordable gift markets, free Santa photo days and many more events designed to ensure every family feels supported.

Cheryl also created a Guelph-based community exchange platform, similar to Kijiji but focused entirely on helping families in need through A Little Relief. This initiative allows households to give away gently used items they no longer need by posting directly or through Cheryl. Families who are struggling can then claim the items that will benefit them most.

Last summer, I had two bicycles my children had outgrown. I reached out to Cheryl, and she immediately shared the post on the A Little Relief Facebook page. Within a couple of hours, several families expressed interest, and ultimately, two families received the bikes. Knowing that these items were being used again, bringing joy, saving money, and reducing environmental impact, was incredibly meaningful.

This simple system not only supports families facing financial hardship but also reduces waste and promotes sustainability by ensuring good-quality items are reused rather than thrown away.

Many families in community, including newcomers, low-income parents, seniors, and small home-based vendors have come to rely on these programs as a vital source of hope and comfort during challenging times.

Last year, I had the chance to volunteer with Cheryl for the first time on 2024 Canada Day, when A Little Relief hosted the celebration for the Guelph community at Riverside Park. Working alongside her showed me how deeply she leads with compassion, humility, and genuine care for people. Cheryl excels in operations, management, communication, social media, and most importantly building meaningful community connections. Her energy inspires everyone around her, and her kindness creates a space where every volunteer feels valued. What truly sets Cheryl apart isn’t just the volunteer hours she gives or the number of programs she delivers, but the heart and purpose behind everything she does.

Through her dedication and volunteer leadership, Cheryl has helped make A Little Relief a trusted and essential community support system in our city. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside her, learn from her, and be part of the community she has built with such genuine care and love.

For these reasons and many more, I wholeheartedly nominate Cheryl Steffer Emond for this Volunteer Award. Her service is remarkable, her heart is generous, and her impact on Guelph is immeasurable.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

An ALR Volunteer

Direct Client Impact Over the Past Decade

Over the past almost 10 years, A Little Relief has supported thousands of clients through a variety of programs and services.

Emergency Food Relief
When food is available, ALR provides emergency food hampers and distributes donated food received through The SEED.

Pandemic Support
During COVID-19, ALR helped ensure vulnerable community members could access food by providing free delivery of food donated through The SEED, as well as free grocery delivery from local grocery stores.

Seasonal & Holiday Joy
From Easter baskets packed with goodies for children to Christmas Toy Hampers, our seasonal programs help families celebrate special occasions without the added burden of financial stress.

Ongoing Essentials & Extras
Over the years, ALR has also provided new clothing, occasional birthday party decorations and gifts, essential items, and, more recently, support through our Back-to-School Drive.

Made Possible by Our Community

None of this would be possible without our donors, sponsors, community partners, and, of course, our incredible volunteers.

Every donation, introduction, hour volunteered, item collected, partnership formed, and helping hand allows A Little Relief to reach a little further.

We appreciate you, and we thank you.

Cheryl and Joanne share a dream of helping make Guelph stronger and ensuring vulnerable families and individuals have somewhere to turn—particularly during an affordability crisis that is affecting so many members of our community.

They remain firmly committed to the simple idea behind the organization's name: sometimes, when life becomes overwhelming, what someone needs most is simply A Little Relief.

Together with the community that continues to stand beside them, Cheryl and Joanne are helping make a meaningful difference throughout our city.

— From all of us at A Little Relief