Edmonton non-profit partnering with businesses to help those in need
Posted January 13, 2026 4:53 pm.
Last Updated January 13, 2026 6:17 pm.
An Edmonton-based group is bringing the community together to help those in need. ‘Sonder Bridge’ helps feed Edmontonians suffering homelessness by partnering with businesses and restaurants on Whyte Avenue.
“It’s just about making a cold night a little bit more bearable,” said Sam Huculak, the founder of Sonder Bridge.
Huculak launched the non-profit a few months ago after an idea that came from his time as a student.
“Just having a night here on Whyte Ave and you’ll see lots of university students jumping between bars and there out having a good time. But right next to that is somebody sitting on the ground asking for water, and when you see these two very different nights happening, it’s kind of hard not to do something about it,” said Huculak.
With the help of a group of volunteers, Huculak builds care packages with healthy meals, granola bars, and drinks before handing them out once a month to people in need throughout the winter.
“When the project started the care packages were very simple. A Ziplock bag full of a baby cucumber, a couple of granola bars, an apple, and an orange. And a bottle of water,” said Huculak.
According to the 2024 point-in-time count of homelessness, which is conducted on a single day by Homeward Trust Edmonton, over 3,900 people were recorded experiencing homelessness in Edmonton, surpassing the most recent point-in-time count from 2022 by 55 per cent.
Bringing other businesses on board, Huculak says, is one way to keep up with the rising numbers.
“Collaborations make the initiative so much stronger because we all have our own audiences. I’m adding these portable nutrition bars, the pint is adding warm meals, and of course, Sonder Bridge is going out into the field and actually delivering them. We wouldn’t be able to do it on our own,” said Michael Hodgins, the founder of Fuel Better.
While the focus is now on the Whyte Ave area, Huculak hopes to help more people across the city by working with other businesses like Fuel Better and the Pint on Whyte.
“When you do it you’ll see what a long way that goes,” said Huculak.
