The mission
Ignite the Warmth Society is a grassroots, registered non-profit organization based in traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples dedicated to addressing issues of poverty and homelessness across the Lower Mainland through asset-based community development, youth engagement, and learning exchanges. Our mission is to empower underserved communities and educate youth about the systemic barriers, inequities, and stigma placed upon unhoused communities.
In 2013, we started as a small team of students wanting to involve our schools and communities to supporting those unhoused or facing precarious living situations. What started as a blanket drive evolve and grew with the support of the dedicated people, partners, and mostly students who wanted to see change happen in small, incremental steps.
Our partners have included UBC Learning Exchange, Union Gospel Mission, The Dugoout Drop-in Society, Employ to Empower, The Lookout Housing and Health Society, Elizabeth Fry Society, Richmond Cares Richmond Gives, Save-on-Foods, Canadian Tires, Value Village, Rona, Starbucks, Hootsuite, Kanata Blanket Company and Canadian Springs.
Our team
Joanne Li
Co-Founder
Precilia Kong
Co-Founder
Stephanie Lee
Director, Board
RISHIKA SELVAKUMAR
Peer Mentor
Former members
Ashley Dela Cruz, Christina Yang, Florent Dusenge, Noha Shehata, Rinky Manivannan, Yui Leung, Anand Dhatt, Saheb Sidhu, Denis Aldana, Aurelia Kong, Pratik Bassi, Ricky Guan, Rebecca Hung, Matthew Mah, Melissa Mah, TianXing Li, Daniel Merlo, Davis Wu, Richard Zhen