December 18, 2024
As we look toward 2025, we want to take a few moments to reflect and honour the generosity that surrounds the holiday season. Many of our offices across the country were part of various fundraisers and donations, and A49 employees came together to help support our communities during a particularly stressful time of year.
TORONTO
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was able to give back to the community actively, not just financially. One of the two charities the office supported was the Shoe Box Project. This Canadian charitable non-profit is there to uplift women who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, or facing other financial and health complications. A49 came together to fill 20 shoe boxes with donation items to help make the holidays feel a little extra special.
The second charitable event the GTA employees had the option to participate in, was volunteering at the Yonge St Mission soup kitchen to help support the current staff and give the gift of time.
MONTRÉAL
Montréal collected goods for two organizations, both supporting women. InterVal 1175 is a safe and welcoming refuge for women of all ages and children and offers psychosocial support to help overcome violence and help women regain power over their lives. The other organization is La rue des femmes, which is a shelter and relational health centre that welcomes and cares for women who are in a state of homelessness.
HALIFAX
The Atlantic region supported United Way by putting together winter warming kits that will help individuals who access shelters and agencies serving unhoused populations. These kits include hats, gloves, warm socks, handwarmers, and more. To continue, $500 was raised to donate to the cause. Along with the kits and donation was a presentation from United Way to help raise awareness for the community. A delicious lunch was served of mac & cheese, BBQ beans, and buns in exchange for a $10 donation.
OTTAWA
The Ottawa office is supporting the Ottawa food bank with monetary donations and non-perishables to make a difference in the lives of the people in the community and ensure food security.
WINNIPEG
Winnipeg supported their local communities by fundraising for the United Way campaign. Theme days helped the office get in the holiday spirit, including soup day
and the game of chance. To continue, gently used winter items were collected for Wahbung Abinoonjiiag, a women's shelter and crisis resource centre. With corporate support combined with individual staff donations, $800 worth of items were donated to North Star Lodge, an indigenous women's healing centre. Finally, food donations and gifts were collected from staff to support four family Christmas cheerboard hampers.
As we take the time to reflect on these positive causes, we are proud of our A49 employees for their collective efforts to help local families and communities in need during the busy holiday months. We look forward to helping more communities in 2025. Happy Holidays!