From mobility equipment to monetary donations and employment, Safeway works to support people with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Since 2008, over $16.6 million has been raised by Safeway, together with our customers and employees, in support of people with intellectual and physical disabilities. 100% of the funds raised in Safeway stores go directly to our charitable partners.
In partnership with Easter Seals, Special Olympics and Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Safeway has been able to support critical research and send thousands of children with disabilities and their siblings to camp. We provide support for over 1,000 Special Olympics athletes annually and have donated hundreds of pieces of specialized mobility equipment in an effort to help make muscles move.
Safeway also partners with local agencies, across Western Canada and Northwestern Ontario, to provide support and meaningful work experiences for people with disabilities. Throughout our operations, we proudly employ over 500 people with a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities.
About our Partners
Easter Seals Canada
Since 1937, Easter Seals has been providing children and youth who have a physical disability with a unique opportunity to experience new things, make friends and have fun in a safe and structured environment. Safeway supports these initiatives through fundraising and awareness campaigns in our stores.
In partnership with Easter Seals, Safeway, together with our customers and employees, raises funds needed to provide memorable camp opportunities for over 1,000 disabled children throughout Western Canada and Ontario. The money raised in each province across Western Canada stays within the province to support children with disabilities in the community.
In British Columbia, children attend Camp Shawinigan, Camp Squamish and Camp Winfield. Within Alberta, campers are invited to stay at Camp Horizon, with children from Saskatchewan attending Camp Easter Seal. Across Manitoba and Ontario, children with disabilities visit Camp Arnes, Camp Assiniboia, Camp Koinonia, Woodeden Camp, and Merriwood Camp.
Since 2008, $4.8 million has been raised through this special partnership with Easter Seals Canada.
Special Olympics Canada
Special Olympics Canada is dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport. A grassroots movement, Special Olympics operates year-round out of local sport clubs across the country.
Due to the 17,398 incredible volunteers, Special Olympics programs are able to reach all ages, including children and youth who participate in the Active Start and FUNdamentals programs, as well as adults through a variety of sport programming. Special Olympics not only impacts communities across Canada through sport, it also builds confidence in Special Olympics athletes and reveals the champion in all of us.
With the help of Safeway, athletes are able to travel to national events and receive support for training and local competitions. Many Special Olympics athletes are also proud Safeway employees.
Since 2008, over $2.5 million has been raised to support Special Olympics Canada.
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
It takes four muscles to sit and watch television and another 12 to use the remote control. For those living with Muscular Dystrophy, these simple tasks can be daunting, if not impossible. Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) is dedicated to supporting the independence of Canadians with neuromuscular disorders by funding research, mobility equipment and raising a better understanding of the disease.
Since 2008, together with our customers and employees, Safeway has donated $6.58 million to leading-edge neuromuscular research and mobility grants across Western Canada and Northern Ontario.
Thanks to the Safeway Make Muscles Move campaign, we’ve been able to:
- Purchase 572 pieces of mobility equipment/medical devices and home modifications valued at over $2.9 million for 229 families in Western Canada & Northern Ontario.
- Hold an annual Empowerment in Action Conference: a summit on life transitions, personal leadership and neuromuscular disorder management.
- Invest in neuromuscular research projects across Canada to help find a cure for neuromuscular disorders in our lifetime.
- Award Safeway Moving Muscles Scholarships providing $5,000 to young adults aged 17 to 27 living with neuromuscular disorders.
