We
Support Community

Guiding your support to the real needs of Winnipeg's grass roots charities

  • Who we are and what we do

    LINKING HOPE is a “not-for-profit” that functions like an “Amazon for Hope with buyers and sellers of hope. We link businesses and individuals with surplus supplies /products to local grassroots agencies that can distribute these supplies directly to our community.

What We Do

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Diagram of how we work

Who We Are 

Kristie Pearson, MBA

President & Not For Profit Consultant

Kristie Pearson is the founder & President of Linking Hope. Kristie has worked with numerous charitable organizations in various fundraising and strategic capacities. Some of the agencies she has supported include Inclusion Winnipeg, Riverview Hospital Foundation, Children’s Hospital Foundation, Thrive Community Support Circle, Rainbow Resource Centre, the Y Winnipeg Downtown Capital Campaign and Clan Mothers Healing Village & Knowledge Centre. She also recently completed a successful campaign for the United Way of Winnipeg as co-chair with her husband, Doug, raising over $22.8 million.

Kristie Pearson
Lawrence "Spatch" Mulhall

Operations Manager 

Spatch has been and continues to be involved in the non- profit community for over 25 years. Spatch has helped to establish youth and cultural programs for organizations such as, MaMawi, West Broadway, Lord Selkirk Developments, Bear Clan, and many more. Spatch is currently the Operations Manager for the Indigenous-led shelter known as N’Dinawemak. Spatch is also a member of Juno award winning bands Eagle and Hawk as well as a member of the Juno nominated band Indian City.


Lawrence "Spatch" Mulhall
Rob Crowley

Operations

Rob is a retired businessman. Involved in the clothing industry for 40 years. Very active over the past 20 years, helping provide for the underserved, vulnerable and challenged with much-needed apparel. With the support of over 15 National retailers and manufacturers, we have been able to re-purpose both NEW and used apparel and footwear and distribute them to the less fortunate through 30+ charitable organizations in Winnipeg.


Rob Crowley
Shannon Johnston

Board Member

Shannon Johnson is a professional manager with broad expertise in marketing and sales management, Operations management, communications, and program design and delivery. Education background includes a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba, Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba designation – CPA, CMA, as well as French Language studies from the University of Laval in Quebec city. Work experience is made up of 13 years in the financial sector for TD asset Management and TD Waterhouse at senior levels. Since leaving TD, she has spent 18 years at Manitoba Hydro in a variety of roles including establishment of Manitoba Hydro’s Affordable Energy Unit, Licensing of Bipole III and the Manitoba Minnesota Transmission lines and currently in her role as Director of Distribution Operations and Management for the city of Winnipeg. As a believer in giving back to the community, volunteer activities have included President of the Canadian Club of Winnipeg, Board member of Fort Whyte Alive, Board Member of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, auction committee member of Rainbow Society as well as Board member at the Winnipeg Winter Club.

Liz Prall

Board Member

Liz is a strong advocate of community service activities. She has been on multiple Boards and Committees and is currently involved with the Winnipeg Winter Club, Thrive Community Circle, and Linking Hope.


How We Started

This sourcing and distribution model has been informally used for the past 20 years by Lawrence Mullhall (Spatch) and Rob Crowley. Initially, it was run under ‘PROJECT ECHO’ and ‘Sam’s Christmas.’ Clothing and food hampers were gathered, sorted and distributed to over 20 local agencies in concert with partners such as True North, BISON Transport, Sturgeon Creek High School, Sportchek & Mark’s Work Wearhouse.

Since COVID, Kristie Pearson began a small non-profit collecting and distributing items from her garage, using her extensive volunteer network. She developed partnerships with many local businesses and agencies.

The Linking Hope team

Business Partners

Agency Partners

The work Linking Hope does is paramount to our communities and especially in a time where people are struggling to meet their most basic needs.
Ayn Wilcox, Executive Director, Klinic Community HealthKLINIC Community Health
Through her group’s work, Linking Hope has collected, sorted, and delivered substantial donations of clothing, personal hygiene products, and self-care items to over 25 resource and community centres in Winnipeg, ensuring that hundreds of individuals receive essential support each month. Linking Hope’s commitment goes beyond simple acts of charity; they have effectively established and managed a system that directly benefits the most vulnerable members of our community. Their tireless efforts have made a significant impact on our ability to serve those in need and have undoubtedly improved the quality of life for many.
Rhonda Elias-Penner, Executive Director, Thrive Community Support CircleThrive Community Support Circle logo
We have been the recipient of Linking Hope’s donations several times and it is an invaluable support for us. We do not have the capacity to make the connections and get the donations, but we DO have the means to distribute to those who most need the items. We very much support the ongoing formalization of Linking Hope.
Cynthia Drebot, Executive Director, North End Women’s CentreNorth End Womens Centre Logo
Because of your support, our staff have distributed hundreds of articles of clothing and pairs of shoes to First Nations families who were impacted by wildfire evacuations. Such support has been particularly impactful for larger families with 5 or more children, who otherwise wouldn’t have the means to purchase clothing or shoes for their families and who
experienced extended stays in the City of Winnipeg.
Cora Morgan, First Nations Family Advocate, Assembly of Manitoba ChiefsAssembly of Manitoba Chiefs Logo

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