Donor will match gifts to Solar Suitcase campaign up to $150,000

This year, Alongside Hope is turning our energy toward light.

A Solar Suitcase is a bright yellow power system that brings light and life-saving equipment to maternal health clinics in rural communities. These clinics often don’t have reliable electricity, or any at all. Nurses and midwives often have to deliver babies at night by candlelight or phone flashlight.

That’s where the Solar Suitcase comes in. It’s compact and carries practical tools: a high-efficiency solar panel, long-lasting battery, medical-grade LED lights, phone charging ports, and a fetal Doppler to help monitor babies during labour. It’s everything needed to safely support births in places where there is no electricity.

And here’s the big news: a donor has stepped forward with a $150,000 matching gift. That means every dollar you give will be doubled, up to that amount. Visit our solar suitcase webpage to see our progress.

The Coming Alongside Hope with Light campaign aims to provide 49 Solar Suitcases – 35 for clinics in Mozambique and 14 in Madagascar. The budget is $320,000, and with the matching gift in place, we need to raise $170,000 to reach the goal. The first $150,000 will be matched dollar for dollar.

The campaign got off to a strong start at General Synod in London, Ontario. Heather Jenkins from Alongside Hope hosted live demos of the Solar Suitcase, drawing in hundreds of people. Folks gathered around, asked questions, and got to see just how powerful this yellow box really is.

Ways to Give

Make your gift online – every gift matched. You can donate by phone by calling 1-866-308-7973 or by mail to Alongside Hope, 80 Hayden St., Toronto ON M4Y 3G2.

Plan a parish fundraiser to equip a rural health clinic with solar power – your gifts will be matched! Find resources at our Solar Suitcase page.

Join the Wild Ride and help us raise funds to provide eight Solar Suitcases. Thanks to the matching gift, those eight suitcases will turn into 16.

You don’t have to hop on a bike to make a difference, though. Parishes and individuals across the country are joining in through walking, running, swimming, paddling, holding bake sales, concerts, knitting and more. Everyone is invited to take part in a way that works for them. For more information visit our Wild Ride page.

Whether you’re walking, knitting, donating, or sharing the story, you’re helping light up a delivery room somewhere in the world.