The Community Merch Project

The Cause

Northreach Society is a non-profit organization located in Northern Alberta which focuses on addressing the social determinants of health. The organization was incorporated in 1987 and has grown and changed over the years to address the needs of the community, all while promoting the health of our community members. Our programs focus on community education, food security, 2SLGBTQ+ youth support, sexually transmitted and blood infection prevention, testing, and treatment, overdose prevention, supervised consumption services, and substance use and addiction support. Our idea is to start a small social enterprise that will sell merchandise and reinvest the profits back into our social mission. We will engage our community members, including the general public and those who are vulnerable, to submit their original art for consideration. We will support the engagement by providing art supplies to those who are interested but facing barriers. The art will go to a vote and the designs chosen to go to print will be purchased from the artist at an agreed upon price. Designs may relate to a particular theme, occasion, or event such as International Overdose Awareness Day, Pride, and our 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Summer Camp. These designs will be printed on merchandise such as t-shirts and sold to the public via our website. Exclusive designs will be sold at special events such as our Boot Scootin’ Back to the 90’s fundraiser. All profits will go directly back into our programs, services, and the community.

Who Will it Benefit?

This program will benefit individuals who access programs and services at Northreach Society. These individuals are often facing adversity and may include individuals experiencing food insecurity, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, vulnerable women, people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, and people at risk of sexually transmitted blood-borne infections. These are all individuals who are often impacted by poverty, stigma, and the various social determinants of health.