This article was previously published on CambridgeToday.
A local organization formed to help the region's most vulnerable residents was close to shutting its doors for good last week after financial stress and an increased workload left its volunteer founders struggling to pay the bills.
The 519 Community Collective, which grew from a few people in a garage to a massive operation helping the region's homeless has found a bit of a reprieve after announcing on Facebook it was close to shutting its doors for good.
The volunteer group that started on social media during the pandemic now has nearly 12,000 members on its Facebook page.
But after experiencing immense growth, the collective has become a massive ship its organizers now feel is in danger of sinking.
Julie Sawatzky, the founder of the 519 Community Collective, said the bills keep coming in and the stress keeps mounting.
"I am exhausted. We can't bleed blood from a stone," said Sawatzky of their financial status in a Facebook post that stated all the programs the organization operates are at risk of shutting down with less than $1,450 in the bank and the food hamper shelves, kitchen fridges and freezers almost empty.
"Our inboxes are filled with people who are angry due to a lack of knowledge of our situation. I have been in bed sick for a week, yesterday being the first day I ventured out," she told CambridgeToday.
"This morning paying all the 519 bills and realizing the realities, I have given myself a literally panic attack. You have no idea what pressure our team, especially me and Leah face trying to make all of this work."
Sawatzky said they feed more than 900 people per week with their 11 programs, but it is all becoming too much. With over 45-hour volunteer weeks, the organizers say they are exhausted.
The group offers a space where members can donate what they've collected directly to those in need, or through support programs run by Sawatzky and other volunteers.
They operate several food pantries here in Cambridge as well as a soup kitchen from its headquarters on Ainslie Street in downtown Galt.
At its Cambridge location, they offer cooking classes, hot meals and a safe place for donations.
With the increased need from the community and the mounting costs to run the organization, the future of the 519 was looking bleak.
"I personally need a break, we don't get paid, we volunteer! We are struggling," she said.
"I started this almost five years ago in my garage. It is a miracle we have made it this far, but I am tired and under so much pressure."
In the past 48 hours, the group may have found hope as they received donations that would boost their account to $6,868.
"We are all in shock and have cried many many happy tears over the last 48 hours," said Sawatzky. "We could never get to the finish line (charity status) without this push in funding."
The new funding will allow them to finish covering the next three months plus fill up the meat and veggie freezers, sandwich program, Cambridge kitchen and cover all their rent, utilities and other monthly costs.
Sawatzky said the paperwork for the group's charitable status was submitted last October, but the process of securing proper training and board members to meet the Canada Revenue Agency requirements has taken time.
"We are changing lives! Let's keep the momentum stay positive keep giving and serving; the best is yet to come," she said.
