November is a busy time for the staff and volunteers at Flamborough Connects - and it's all worth it, says executive director Colleen Stinson.
The local charity is in the midst of its annual Holiday Gift Program, which matches donors with local seniors and adults with disabilities, to provide them with a little joy during the season.
Stinson says the emphasis is on providing a gift, with a personal touch. And much thought - and effort - is put into getting just the right items into the hands of someone who might not otherwise receive anything under the tree at Christmastime.
“There is something so inspiring about knowing that somebody deliberately went and chose this gift specifically for you,” says Stinson. “If somebody has chosen something because the pattern or the texture resonated with them and they wanted that to be passed on to someone, that’s something really personal. There's something really personal about even choosing something like a flavour of the chocolate. It’s saying, ‘I really like this, and I'm going to share my favourite with you.’ Or ‘I love this pattern on these socks. It made me smile. So I'm going to buy them for you.’”
In some cases, a gift card can be the best choice, depending on a requested item, says Stinson. But that doesn’t mean the gift can’t be personalized with a thoughtful stocking stuffer or two.
First launched in 2005, the Holiday Gift Program accepts registrations through local agencies and from the community. Clients who want to sign up must live in Flamborough and must be a senior or an adult with a disability living on an annual income below $35,000.
Flamborough Connects staff are working with local agencies such as Flamborough Food Bank, Food With Grace, Freelton Lions Villa, Eaton Place, Rotary Garden Court and Knox Out of the Cold to collect registrations. Members of the community can also reach out directly to Flamborough Connects to sign up.
“If there are seniors that are reading this, and they live in the area and the eligibility criteria, they can reach out to us directly,” noted office coordinator Kelly Porter. Wish lists must be submitted this week, to give donors enough time to shop.
Those who want to donate can sign up now; they will be matched -anonymously - with a client and will receive their wish list. Donors are asked to shop for items ($50 to $100), and drop off unwrapped gifts to the Flamborough Connects office (163 Dundas St. E.) by Dec. 5.
Stinson noted that the client list has grown over the years - a trend she expects will continue.
“In 2022 we did 74 gifts; last year we did 142,” she said.”I would think we're going to hit 150 this year.”
Once all the gifts are collected, Flamborough Connects hosts a community wrapping day, which is at once a monumental task and a joyful day of giving back. Volunteers are needed to wrap, help move gifts, and any other number of small tasks to make sure the gifts are ready for the FC team of volunteer drivers to deliver by mid-December.
“The wrapping day is a lot of fun,” noted Stinson. “We lay everything out. People are given a gift to wrap, and then they get to add the stocking stuffers. So they get to do their own creativity with how they want to wrap something. And we make a bit of a celebration out of it. We have Christmas music and Christmas trivia, and snacks and goodies.”
The gift wrapping session will take place Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Flamborough Seniors Centre.
Stinson says the community involvement is key to the success of the annual drive.
“This is a program that is intended to bring holiday cheer to people who maybe don't have a lot of social connections,” said Stinson. “So it may be that they just don't get a gift from anybody. Maybe their family doesn't live close.
“There's all kinds of reasons why people aren't celebrating a lot this holiday season, and it's not about whether they are in more dire straits than someone else."
Those who want to register for the Flamborough Connects Holiday Gift Porgram – as a donor or recipient or wrapping day volunteer – can call the office at 905-689-7880 or email [email protected].
Cash donations to support the program or Flamborough Connects services and resources can, visit their Donate Page https://flamboroughconnects.ca/donate/ or eTransfer to [email protected].
