The Care Bears Cambridge
8:45 AM · The bell rings

Every kid deserves a full school day.

Some kids in Cambridge start class on an empty stomach. The Care Bears gets snacks into local schools so they don't have to. Started by Doug Laking and Steve Uba, funded by neighbours.

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100%Local to Cambridge schools
Nut-freeSafe for every classroom
1 placeAll donations on GoFundMe
My story

Why I started The Care Bears

Steve Uba (left) and Doug Laking (right) standing together on a country road in the fall

This community raised me, and I've always believed in giving back to it.

Donate on GoFundMe

I've lived in Cambridge my whole life. I grew up on these streets, went to school here, and I've watched this city go through a lot.

Over the years I've seen more and more families in Cambridge struggling. Rent keeps going up, groceries keep going up, and a lot of parents are doing everything they can just to keep up. The people who feel it the most are the kids. Some of them show up to class without breakfast and go the whole day without a snack. Most of them won't say a word about it.

This community raised me, and I've always believed in giving back to it. So Steve Uba and I started The Care Bears with people from across Cambridge who feel the same way. We raise money on GoFundMe, buy snacks, and get them into local schools so any kid who needs something to eat can have it, no questions asked.

No kid in Cambridge should have to learn hungry. With your help, they won't have to.

Doug LakingCo-founder, The Care Bears · Cambridge
Steve UbaCo-founder, The Care Bears · Cambridge
The problem

A school day on empty.

For some Cambridge kids, this is a normal day. A snack waiting at school changes all of it.

  1. 8:45

    The bell rings

    No breakfast at home this morning.

  2. 10:30

    Hard to focus

    Stomach growling through math class.

  3. 12:00

    Lunch is small

    Not much in the lunchbox today.

  4. With you

    A snack is waiting

    Your GoFundMe donation changes the whole day.

How it works

From your pocket to a classroom

  1. You donate

    Give any amount on GoFundMe. It's the only place we take donations.

  2. We shop & pack

    Volunteers buy nut-free snacks and box them up for each school.

  3. Kids get snacks

    We drop off at Cambridge schools so kids who need food can have it.

What we buy

Where your money goes

Snacks that are easy to hand out, need no fridge, and are safe for every classroom.

Granola barsNut-free, wrapped
Fruit cupsCups or pouches
CrackersSingle-serve packs
Whole fruitApples, oranges, bananas
Juice & water100% juice boxes
PopcornPre-bagged, light salt

✓Every snack we buy is

  • Nut-free and peanut-free
  • Sealed in its original packaging
  • Fresh, with a good date left
  • Shelf-stable, no fridge needed

✕We skip

  • Anything with nuts or "may contain nuts"
  • Glass jars or bottles
  • Pop and energy drinks
  • Candy and junk food

We don't collect snack drop-offs. Money raised on GoFundMe lets us buy exactly what schools need. Donate on GoFundMe

How you can help

Every little bit helps

You don't have to give a lot. Every bit helps a kid get through the school day.

Share the fundraiserPost it or send it to friends. Get the post
Volunteer your timeHelp shop, pack or deliver. Sign up
Tell us about a schoolKnow where kids need snacks? Let us know
Bring your business on boardPut up a poster with the donate QR code. Get the QR
Wear your badgeMake a supporter badge to post. Make one
Show your support

Make your supporter badge

Donated or shared? Make a badge with your name and post it on Facebook or Instagram. It's a great way to get friends to join in.

Colour

Tip: on a phone you can also press and hold the badge to save it.

Supporter badge preview
Contact sheet

Get in touch

Want to volunteer, or know a school that could use help? Fill this in and we'll put your message together so you can send it to Doug. To donate, please use GoFundMe.

f
Doug LakingMessage on Facebook
 f
Steve UbaMessage on Facebook

I'd like to
Questions

Good to know

Is my donation safe?

Yes. You donate on GoFundMe itself, so this page never sees your card details. GoFundMe handles the payment and emails you a receipt.

Can I drop off snacks or cash?

No. To keep things simple and transparent, we only take donations through GoFundMe. Every dollar shows up there, and we use it to buy the snacks schools need.

Is it tax-deductible?

No. Personal GoFundMe fundraisers aren't registered charities, so donations don't come with a tax receipt.

Why nut-free?

Many Cambridge schools are nut-aware because of student allergies, so we buy nut-free snacks that can go to any classroom.

Who runs this?

The Care Bears was started by Doug Laking and Steve Uba, together with people from across Cambridge.

How do I volunteer?

Fill in the contact sheet and send it to Doug on Facebook. He'll let you know when help is needed.

Also running now · Nov 6 – Dec 1The Care Bears Christmas Toy DriveEvery dollar buys toys for Cambridge kids, given out by the Cambridge Salvation Army.

Help a Cambridge kid get through the school day.

Donate on GoFundMe
Toys for Salvation Army Donate