Bee Kind

Celebrating the intersection between craft beer and community in Waterloo Region.

TWB believes that profit does not come at the expense of community.

Keep an eye on this page to read about our current outreach and community initiatives!

April 2024

Celebrate Earth Day All Month 🌎

This month we are fundraising for Waterloo Region Nature - some of you may know them from Bird Bingo at the brewery!

Waterloo Region Nature is affiliated with Ontario Nature, our province’s umbrella group for nature enthusiasts - they sponsor fun activities that involve nature for adults, children, and youth.

Their goals and objectives include:

to acquire and disseminate knowledge of natural history
to protect and preserve wildlife, plants and ecosystems
to purchase and hold land for conservation
to promote public interest in nature and its preservation by supporting enactment of wise legislation

Help us support them this month by making a donation at our brewery or directly to them - or volunteer if you’re able! And consider joining us for Bird Bingo, happening on Sunday, April 21st, 1:30 - 3:30 pm. Buy your ticket here!

March 2024

See the person. See the ability.

For the third year in a row, TWB is partnering with the Waterloo Wellington Down Syndrome Society (WWDSS) to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, which takes place each year on March 21st! The WWDSS is a charitable non-profit created in 1988 by parents of children with Down Syndrome. It is entirely run by volunteers - every dollar raised goes towards helping fund programs and services.

You can participate by:

Purchasing a can of AJ & Zeus Lemongrass Pale Ale when it’s released on March 19! A portion of the proceeds from each can goes directly to the WWDSS to support their programming year-round.
Make a cash donation in our taproom.
Donate directly to the WWDSS or purchase some merchandise through their website.

Your donations will help:

Provide a social and information network for parents/families
Advocate for persons with Down syndrome to lead healthy and active lives in our community
Assist the inclusion of people with Down Syndrome into the community

February 2024

We’re proud to support The Working Centre during February - our birthday month! Founded in Kitchener in 1982 to help address unemployment and poverty in our community. Since that time, The Working Centre has grown into a network of support, working for the social, environmental, and educational good of our community.

The organization’s “main projects give people access to tools to create their own work combined with continuous ways of learning and co-operating. The Working Centre organizes its projects into six areas; the Job Search Resource Centre, St. John’s Kitchen, Community Tools, Access to Technology, Affordable Supportive Housing and the Waterloo School for Community Development.”

Help us support them this month by making a donation in our taproom or directly to them - or volunteer if you’re able!

January 2024

For the month of January, we are collecting donations for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

The need for assistance in our community is greater than ever. With food prices continuing to rise, many people in our region are struggling with food insecurity. In fact 1 in 10 households need food assistance right now.

Help support The Food Bank of Waterloo Region

Make a cash donation in our taproom. Did you know that a $1 donation equals 2 meals?
Help fill the donation boxes in our taproom with non-perishable items.
Donate directly to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region to help bring a little kindness to our community.
Volunteer. Visit thefoodbank.ca to learn more.

December 2023

For the second December in a row, we’re excited to join the Community Angel initiative, spearheaded by our wonderful neighbours at the Mill Courtland Community Centre!

Every year, the community collects toys, non-perishables, gift cards, and other items for families in the area. We know the need is greater than ever, with more families feeling the pressure. The folks at Mill Courtland work hard to bring joy to over 70 families in our community over the holidays.

Help us support the Community Angel project this year by:

Make a cash donation in our taproom when you stop by!
Drop off something from the wish list: non-perishable food, toys, games, art kits, pyjamas, or gift cards.
Donate directly to Mill Courtland Community Centre - and check out some of their programming while you’re there!
Come out to our Very Merry Trivia Night on December 13th, hosted by Sean from the Seen on Screen Podcast - all the proceeds and donations will go directly to the Community Angel drive!

November 2023

For the month of November, we’re happy to partner with The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth (KWSP Humane Society), our chapter of the broader and far-reaching federation of Humane Canada. We kicked off our fundraising at their annual Howl-o-ween fundraiser at the gorgeous Hacienda Sereda in Kitchener - join us next year!

Our Humane Society works hard to ensure that thousands of pets are able “to find - and stay with - loving families.” Through events and campaigns, they raise the resources they need to take care of animals in need. Since its founding, the KWSP Humane Society has grown to be one of the largest animal welfare organisations in Ontario.

While the KWSP Humane Society was started to help homeless or abandoned pets, today they are so much more than that. They still shelter animals and organise adoptions, but they “are also contracted for animal services for 13 municipalities, provide education and learning opportunities both in schools and in centres for youth and adults, […] offer a wide variety of low-cost veterinary services to support people and pets, and [they] have growing outreach services to help pet owners in crisis with emergency boarding and pet food resources.”

The KWSP Humane Society does all this without any government funding (except for animal control contracts), relying instead on the support of community members and donors. Help us support them this month by making a donation at our brewery or directly to them - or volunteer if you’re able!

October 2023

The Kitchener Public Library is a bustling community hub and a vital third space in our city. Offering robust connectivity, literacy programs, musical instruments, diverse arts events, and - of course - an amazing collection of books, it's a year-round treasure. But during October's Canadian Library Month, let's crank up the celebration! Recognize the library's vital role in enriching our lives and connecting our community. Join us in honouring our local library and discover why it's the heart of our town!

KPL “is committed to creating engaging spaces where people connect, ideas flourish and lives are transformed. Your gift will help fund priority needs not covered by tax dollars and will impact everyone who visits the library.”

Help us show our appreciation for the KPL:

Make a cash donation in our taproom when you stop by!
Visit one of the library’s branches and experience the magic for yourself!
Donate directly to the Kitchener Public Library!

September 2023

Some of you may have heard online that the Community Fridge run by the 519 Community Collective was stolen in August. The Collective has been working for years to spread kindness, hope, and love to the most vulnerable in the tri-cities through their programs, which include the community fridge, nourish kitchen, urban garden, 23 little free food pantries installed across the region, an assortment of emergency food programs, and more! We’re very lucky to have this dedicated group here in Waterloo Region - it’s all the more amazing that they have accomplished all this only since March 2020.

Help us show them that their work matters and demonstrate our commitment to our community:

Purchase a limited edition pint glass featuring Morningstar Design’s original TWB seacan mural art - these sold out quickly last time so make sure you get yours quickly!
Make a cash donation in our taproom when you stop by!
Donate directly to the 519 Community Collective or get involved in the movement yourself!

August 2023

We have been partnering with the Hydrocut Committee on our Hydrocut Session IPA ever since we opened. We designed the beer with the trail riders in mind, building a crisp and hoppy sessionable IPA for them to enjoy after a ride on the mountain biking trails! We’re lucky to have these world-class trails right in our backyard - and we’re proud to support the volunteer community that builds and maintains them!

“The Hydrocut Trail system is consistently ranked as one of the top riding destinations in Ontario and is recognized across Canada for its 35km of flowing trails that see over 80,000 visitors per year. The trails are open and free to the public. They feature boardwalks and bridges, switchbacks and ‘armoured’ walls, with fast lines and technical features to challenge the most skilled of riders.”

You can help support the Committee & the trails with us when you:

Purchase a can of The Hydrocut Session IPA, our delicious and light seasonal IPA. Keep an eye out for our limited edition cans with the original label designed by Jason Piper.
Make a cash donation in our taproom when you stop by!
Donate directly to the Trail Committee to help bring a little fun to our community!
Sign up to volunteer if you can and tell your friends about this great network!
Get outside and ride the trails yourself!

July 2023

Giving rescue pets a new collar, a new home, and a new life.

We’re proud to work with Dog Friendly KW to support New Collar Collective throughout the month of July! “Founded in 2020, New Collar Collective is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit animal rescue organization committed to alleviating animal homelessness. All rescue dogs and cats are placed in loving foster homes, where they receive the vetting and basic training required for them to thrive once they are adopted by their forever families.”

New Collar Collective works with their partners to “help at-risk dogs and cats in remote northern Canadian communities, locally with stray and owner surrenders, and internationally in countries with high over populations of stray dogs and cats.”

You can help support NCC along with us when you:

Purchase a can of The Leroy Witbier, a delicious seasonal wit we brewed with Dog Friendly KW!
Make a cash donation in our taproom when you stop by!
Donate directly to New Collar Collective to help bring a little kindness to our community!
Sign up to volunteer, foster, or adopt! NCC only rescues dogs and cats if there are foster homes to place them in - they provide all supplies and cover all of the vetting while you provide them with cuddles, usually for 4-6 weeks. Or consider adopting a rescue if you can - either way, NCC will be there to help every step of the way!

June 2023

Celebrate Pride 🌈

All through June, you can show your support for SPECTRUM WR at TWB! We’re excited to work with this organisation again, and hope you join us in helping them expand their impact this month and all year long!

Founded in 2012, SPECTRUM “offers a safe place where 2SLGBTQ+ individuals can be themselves and find community and supports.” They organise support groups, rec activities, and events throughout the year - you can chip in when you:

Purchase a can of Equal, a delicious saison with pepper and lime, brewed in support of SPECTRUM WR.
Pick up a TWB rainbow sticker when you stop by the taproom - while supplies last! Part of the proceeds support SPECTRUM as well.
Make a cash donation in our taproom.
Donate directly to SPECTRUM WR to help bring a little kindness to our community.

April 2023

This month we’re proud to support the work that Sanguen does for our community!

The organisation was founded directly in response to a community need identified by Dr. Chris Steingart, an infectious disease physician who was working at Grand River Hospital. He saw how much medical treatment and support was needed for individuals living with Hepatitis C in Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington. As a response to this need, Sanguen was established You may see their van around town, reaching and working with people where they are.

Over the years, Sanguen has continued to expand its impact through education, outreach, support, and comprehensive, expert medical care for those who need it most. We’re excited to spread the word about Sanguen this month and support them - and we hope you join us!

You can participate in our campaign this month by contributing to our donation jar at the till - and you can always support Sanguen by donating to them directly!

May 2023

Live Sustainably

We’re excited to support Reep Green Solutions this month! Not only are they an active and long-running environmental charity that has been working with people across the Region to help them live more sustainably, but they are also our neighbour!

Some of you may have visited the Reep House at some point, either to pick up your Bloom{in} Box of seedlings or to see their energy-conserving methods in practice. It’s located just up Mill

Street from us, so we knew it was only a matter of time before we worked together!

Participants in Reep’s programs have “reduced 27,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions through their home renovations” between 1999 and 2019. During those twenty years, over 14,000 people from around Waterloo Region participated in their workshops, learning about renewable energy, sustainable living, and rainwater management.

Help us celebrate the Earth this month by leaving a donation for Reep next time you come by the brewery to pick up some beer - or reach out to them directly to participate in one of their programs to green your life!