Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Noelle's Gift to Children

Noelle's Gift to Children is a community-based registered charity created in memory of teacher Noelle Paquette. Operating primarily in Sarnia–Lambton and Chatham-Kent, Ontario, the organization provides financial and in-kind support that removes barriers for children so they can learn, grow and thrive. Rather than operating as a grantmaking foundation in the formal sense, it channels donated funds into targeted school and community initiatives that meet concrete needs such as food, clothing, school supplies and other daily essentials.

Its mission is to improve the lives of children in its communities, with a vision that every child has the chance to grow up great. Core values include education, healthy growth and development, and resilience, and its priorities focus on learning, healthy nutrition, physical activity and the provision of basic necessities that support student success.

The charity invests in several recurring initiatives delivered through local schools and partners. A student nutrition program provides nutritious food items during the school day to help students concentrate on their learning. Community Days such as Summer and Winter Family Fun Days and free summer swims are organized to offer low-barrier recreation and family experiences.

Noelle's Gift to Children also offers school support for daily essentials by giving school administrators access to emergency funds for elementary and secondary students. These funds can be used discretely for items such as clothing, hygiene products, transportation or other necessities that allow students to attend and participate fully in school.

A major initiative is the Noelle's Gift Closet program. With support from community sponsors and grants from partners like Dow Chemical and the Judith & Norman Alix Foundation, the organization has built and stocked dozens of closets in schools across Sarnia–Lambton and Chatham-Kent. These closets contain hygiene products, undergarments, extra clothing, backpacks, lunch bags, water bottles and other tailored items that staff can access quickly to support students, providing immediate relief in moments of need.

Additional efforts include providing a reusable water bottle to all Grade 1 students in the region to promote healthy hydration habits, and collaborating on projects such as the "Smash Hits!" children's book that supports literacy and career awareness while raising funds.

Noelle's Gift to Children primarily supports children and youth in elementary and secondary schools, as well as their families, in Sarnia–Lambton and increasingly in Chatham-Kent. It works closely with school boards, principals, teachers and community organizations to identify needs and deliver rapid, flexible support. Through its strategic plan 2024–2029, the charity aims to stabilize governance, plan for sustainable growth, expand further into Chatham-Kent and share its model with other communities.

The organization is funded entirely through donations, sponsorships and fundraising events such as runs, galas and raffles. It actively engages businesses, foundations and individual donors as event sponsors and closet sponsors, and highlights these partners on its website. Volunteers play a central role in organizing events and delivering programs. By combining local fundraising, corporate and foundation support, and strong school partnerships, Noelle's Gift to Children functions as a key local funder of child-focused supports and basic-needs programs.