There are so many great local businesses to support in Edmonton that I wanted to spotlight a few businesses that offer great products and do good! These businesses are all local small businesses that support our community, local charities, and non-profit organizations in one way or another.
Grizzlar Coffee – 10557 109 St // https://www.thegrizzlar.com/
Grizzlar Coffee is a local coffee roaster located just steps away from the MacEwan campus. They support our local community by donating roasted coffee to the Boyle Street Community Services folks and supporting their efforts as much as possible. Through COVID, Grizzlar is continuing to work with Boyle Street Community Services on immediate needs and future projects.
The Dapper Beaver – 6535 111 St // https://the-dapper-beaver.myshopify.com/
The Dapper Beaver is a local coffee roaster that makes a positive impact on the community. Scott started the company in hopes of making a difference in our community through coffee. 20% of tea profits go to The Women’s Emergency Accommodation Centre and the Dapper Beaver supplies all of their coffee needs. 100% of tips and $2 of every bag of coffee sold are also donated! Scott aims for low overhead costs to allow for The Dapper Beaver to facilitate even more donations.
If you are shopping online or in-stores, you can find codes to use which support specific charities. Check out their Instagram as they will be featuring weekend highlights on causes close to their hearts, with donations going towards that cause from the entire weekend.
The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse – 9351 118 Ave // https://www.thecarrot.ca
The Carrot is unique because it is a volunteer-powered, not-for-profit coffeehouse that features local artists and musicians’ works and supports fair trade coffee. They were established by Arts on the Ave, a local charitable organization, in hopes of developing the community through art. They serve socially responsible, direct trade coffee and locally baked goods!
Nook Café – 10153 97 St // https://www.nookyeg.com
Nook Café is an inclusive space that supports local community members in need. They use a “button system” where folks can access free coffee donated by someone else. Although they are closed (for now), Nook Café continues to support the community by bringing warm drinks, treats, masks and winter gear to those in need.
Kobachi – #125 – 200 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park // https://www.kobachi.ca
This mom-and-pop sushi restaurant in Sherwood park continues to provide sustainable food and support the local community through various fundraising initiatives! They’re currently selling toques with proceeds going towards the food bank and donating meals back to the community.
Biera – 9570 76 Ave // https://biera.ca and https://shop.blindenthusiasm.ca/
Biera is a local eatery that sells “Biera Boxes” of charcuterie, where $20 of each box sold is donated to a different charity each month. February supported the Rainbow Society of Alberta and Operation Friendship’s Senior Society. In January, they raised over $4000 for local charities.
LOVEPIZZA– 10196 109 St // https://www.lovepizza.ca
LOVEPIZZA supports close-to-home charities and non-profits year-round. They’ve donated $9,000 to the community in various ways during their first year of business. They have also donated pizza to local organizations like the Ronald McDonald House, the Bissell Centre, Terra Centre and more in the past!
Oodle Noodle – https://www.oodlenoodle.ca
Oodle Noodle is a local chain started in Edmonton that does great for our local community. They recently provided over 700 meals to the Edmonton Convention Centre Shelter for folks staying there this past December, as well as other organizations like the Bissell Centre, Boyle Street Community Services, and WIN House. Oodle Noodle is also donating 10% of its in-store sales to support local charities in addition to food donations. As of December 2020, they have surpassed $100,000 in donations.
FIND Edmonton – 5120 122 St // https://findedmonton.com
Shop for preloved furniture while supporting our local community! FIND provides essential furnishings for free to individuals and families that are transitioning out of homelessness. These essentials could include a couch, chair, dining room set and bedroom dresser. They work with Housing First in Edmonton, with proceeds of sales going to Housing First participants. You can shop for their affordably priced home goods and furniture online or in person. They also have a donation centre where you can drop off gently used furniture and homeware.
Hopefully, this list helps you find some new favourite businesses to support! It’s always great to shop local, especially when shopping local also allows you to support our community.
For more content on great local organizations and people – PayitforwardYEG on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/payitforwardyeg/ ) is a great place to visit for more highlights and features on amazing local businesses and organizations that do good all year round!
