“Diversity and Reconciliation” Winter Lecture Series at the Irish Hall

Join us at the Irish Hall on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 7 pm, as Betty Begg-Brooks, the founder and president of Gifts from the Heart, shares insights on "Over the Years - The Face of Poverty on PEI" in the inaugural lecture of the "Diversity and Reconciliation" Winter Lecture Series.

Since its establishment in 2014, Gifts from the Heart has been a beacon of support for low-income Islanders, offering essential items like household goods, clothing, and food. With a clientele of nearly 1,600 families, the charity continues to grow, with up to seven new families seeking assistance.

Operating from its new location at 10 Maple Hills in Charlottetown, double the size of its previous space on Spring Lane, the charity has expanded its reach. Betty Begg-Brooks, known for her compassionate leadership, initially ran the charity from her home in Charlottetown before moving to a warehouse in 2019.

In addition to providing essential items, Gifts from the Heart has initiated community fridges at various locations, including the new facility, West Royalty, and Stratford. Betty's dedication to serving Islanders has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her receipt of the 2020 Forbes Kennedy Volunteer of the Year Award and being named one of six Senior Islanders of the Year in 2023.

Betty's contributions extend beyond tangible aid; she is described as "fiercely compassionate and caring, authentic, a trailblazer, community builder, humanitarian, mentor, mother, friend, partner, senior, and Islander." Her inspiring leadership has played a pivotal role in expanding the charity's services both in terms of physical space and geographic outreach across the province.