The holiday season has always been about celebrating the values that bring people together. Those values range from helping a friend, buying gifts to donating money to a good cause.
Despite of the global pandemic that is still affecting households in Canada, there are some good elves who are assisting Santa in ways to help Canadians.
Donations
Donation boxes are placed at the front entrance of Food Banks Mississauga. The food bank accepts physical items of personal care and non-perishable canned goods. Photo credit: Eleanor Kate Iglesia
Whether people are planning to donate clothes, food or money, any donation makes a difference this season.
People who are able to donate can do so by gifting their new and fairly-used clothes to The Salvation Army Thrift Store.
Donors can drop off gently used clothing, textiles, housewares, electronics, toys, media and books, accessories, antiques and collectibles at a Donor Welcome Centre.
Also, food donations are widely accepted this season and those who are able to give can do so by either purchasing food to support grocery stores Canada-wide on their give-back sessions or by dropping off purchased foods at their local food bank.
Food Banks Mississauga is one local organization that works towards food security and encourages everyone to “join hands” as they give back this holiday season.
For this year, there’s an urgent need for canned tuna, juice packs, cooking oil, baby food and formula. Also, there’s an express need for gifts to include proteins, fruits and vegetables, grains, and pasta sauce, if able to do so.
Donations can be dropped off at 4544 Eastgate Pkwy., Mississauga.
Food Banks Mississauga is also looking to raise $2 million to get food donations out to its over 60 agency members and donors are able to choose monetary donations if going to the local grocers is impossible.
Supporting a Family
Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School Photo credit: Philip Pocock
Another way for people to give back this year is by helping families in need. It can be as simple as providing grocery gift cards or donating groceries to your neighbourhood churches and schools that make donations each year.
Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School is one institution that has an annual Christmas drive where they request food baskets that will be able to help families during the holiday season.
The school’s Chaplaincy Leader, Andria Bancheri, said that based on the Catholic religion, people are encouraged to help the poor and those in need, so during this sacred time of the year, the goal is to make sure that families within the community who are in need are receiving some support.
Families that get support from Philip Pocock can be nominated by a child and youth worker (CYW) social worker or by Bancheri. “We have 10 families that are actually student families that are receiving Christmas baskets,” Bancheri said.
The high school also supports families from two parishes, Nativity of Our Lord and St. Patrick.
In the past, classrooms would be assigned to a specific family depending on the class size. From there, the class would get a list of items the family needs.
However, due to the pandemic, classes are still assigned to specific families. But instead of bringing physical items, they are asked to donate money.
“We as a school will take the pool of money that’s donated and we go out and purchase the gift cards,” Bancheri said.
Students can donate money by giving cash to their first-period classes or through cash online. In addition, students and their families were able to donate whenever Philip Pocock had an event.
“We also collect cash during the dance and drama showcase, and the Christmas concert,” Bancheri said.
The school’s goal is to give $50 to each person in a family, and if enough money is raised, an additional $25 to children, Bancheri said.
“It really is a whole school effort,” Bancheri said. “Everyone in the school gets involved, and it really brings the community together.”
Volunteering
Volunteering for a huge organization or even helping people at a soup kitchen are great ways to volunteer. Photo credit: Volunteer Toronto
People who have free time can also help the community by volunteering.
Local soup kitchens and a local food drive are always looking for recruits.
Other places in the GTA are:
Feed Toronto: this year’s focus is on self-care exercises and sound healing. In addition, thousands of meals, clothes and hygiene products are distributed to those who need them most.
CAMH Gifts of Light is a donation-funded program. It aims to meet the many different needs of their patients. Some items provided by Gifts of Light are emergency kits and pyjamas.