Trainyard Connect

Trainyard Connect is our kindness initiative, which allows us to support the amazing work being done in our community by non-profit organizations. We partner with local organizations and support their work through financial donations, social media & in store promotion, community sourced donations, and in person events & collaborations. 

5% of profits (~3% of sales) are donated to our Trainyard Connect Community Partners annually. We donate a portion of the sale price for many items in store (as marked) directly to our partners or community projects.

We have partnered with close to two dozen incredible organizations, and donated over $62,678 to help support their work in our community since opening in 2016. We launched Trainyard Connect as our official giving brand in 2017 and it has seen many evolutions since launch, from monthly partnerships to annual to ongoing partnerships with local organizations. 

These partnerships have led to wonderful conversations about the importance of those organizations, and we have had the chance to see programs in action and meet with those who participate in them.

We also do our very best to celebrate & support requests for auction donations and to partner with other organizations for community events. 

We are so excited to be in a position to spread even a tiny bit of kindness within our community, and grateful to everyone who has supported us in getting to this point.

Thank you!

Kimberley and Jason

P.S. For transparency, the $62,678 donated breaks down to $46,913 in cash donations given, and $15,765 in donated goods. 

2024 Partnerships

We are always evolving to help maximize our impact, and for 2023 we haven't formally partnered with any organizations; We continue to support many of our past partners and continue to build new partnerships with organizations as we develop connections. In early 2024 partnerships look like: 

  • Monthly donations to Out of the Cold, The North Grove & The Dartmouth Community Fridge to support their work
  • Donations to Hope for Wildlife in gratitude for their monthly visits to the shop with education animals. 

Meet Our Past Partners

Many of the organizations listed here we have partnered with as part of Trainyard Connect, others we have participated in specific fundraising events for or collaborated with makers to make targeted donations for goods sold.  

If you have a moment, please check out these awesome organizations, many share lots of resources, volunteer and donation requests or other calls to action that can be helpful if you want to help but don't know where to start:

Out Of The Cold
Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre
Black Cultural Centre
Alice House
Stepping Stone Nova Scotia
The North Grove (Dartmouth Family & Food Centres)
LakeCity Works
Hope For Wildlife
Bide Awhile
United Way Halifax
Back To The Sea Society
Easter Seals Nova Scotia
Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre
BEEA Honey With Heart
Self-Help Connection
Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia
Margaret’s House
FEED Nova Scotia
Dartmouth Senior Service Centre
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Halifax                                                          Elizabeth Fry Mainland Nova Scotia                                                               MacPhee Centre