GIVING BACK AT THE CHAPEL
From the time we did our first ever Pop-Up Chapel we made some very important decisions that would ultimately shape the Chapel into what it is today and its core values. We asked ourselves, “Would we give back to local charities and support our local communities?“ OBVIOUSLY! “Should we be socially conscious?” DUH! “Will we be fully inclusive?” HECK YES! “Would we be a sustainable alternative to City Hall?” ABSOLUTELY!
Giving back to our local communities embodied our sustainability and inclusivity mission and has truly become the real heart of why we created The Pop-Up Chapel Co. Since day one, we have been committed to donating $300 from every single Chapel spot sold to charity, and in turn, we have built a stronger presence in the community. We are proud to partner with these organizations and do what we can to support them. Did you know we’ve worked with over 20 local charities to date?! Check out our partners page HERE!
While this past year has been a challenge, in our eyes, there is no better time to give back. With the world changing so quickly around us, it is important for The Pop-Up Chapel Co. to continue the momentum we’ve built, lead with our mission, and support our local communities during the good times and the bad.
An early focus would be on supporting children and youth. We got involved with Camp Oochigeas and Evergreen Children’s Garden. Camp Oochigeas provides year-round in-hospital and virtual camp programs for thousands of children affected by childhood cancer. Evergreen Children’s Garden offers unique children’s programming at Evergreen Brick Works geared towards exploring and discovering the greener side of Toronto.
In 2020, we continued to grow our mission by developing relationships with Black Health Alliance, Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC), Second Harvest, and United Way. Black Health Alliance is an organization whose vision is that diverse Black communities in Canada experience optimal health and well-being. They focus on the social determinants of health, health inequities, anti-black racism, and building connected communities. Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is a not-for-profit corporation whose efforts aim to deliver legal aid services to low and no income Black Ontarian and combat individual and systemic anti-black racism through legal representation.
Second Harvest works with thousands of businesses across the food supply chain to rescue and redistribute unsold, surplus food to non-profit and charitable partners across Canada. United Way is a charity whose efforts aim to provide everything from food and mental health counselling to shelter and vital outreach services to individuals and families helping them transition from poverty to possibility.
When you get married at the Chapel, you can feel good knowing that a portion of your wedding investment is being reinvested into organizations that are making actionable change in our community. Giving back is infectious. Giving back, no matter how small, helps all of us feel a little bit brighter about our days right now - and that’s important. Thanks to our couples and vendors, we are proud to be leaving a positive footprint in the communities we live in and share. Today, we’ve raised nearly $60,000 for local and national charities, supporting a wide range of causes that align with our values. WOW!
Check out upcoming Chapel dates if you want to elope in style while giving back and making a difference!
We’re always looking for opportunities to give back to charitable organizations. Do you know a charity doing great work in one of our Chapel communities? Email us your suggestion at hello@popupchapel.com!