THUNDER BAY – Employees at Tbaytel are only two days into their annual 12 Days of Christmas campaign, and already putting smiles on people’s faces.
On Monday it was the staff at the Clothing Assistance Mission, who received $1,500 cash and bins full of new underwear and socks, which will be donated to children in need throughout Thunder Bay and the surrounding area.
Jamie Smith, a communications co-ordinator at Tbaytel, said it’s all about trying to meet the community where they’re at, finding what their needs are and doing their best to fulfill them.
“We want to make the most of what we’re able to do,” Smith said. “With 12 Days of Christmas we’re spreading it out and surprising people all over town, all over Northwestern Ontario, actually. In this case, the Community Clothing Assistance really wanted donations of clothing.”
They were particularly short on men’s clothing and are always in need of children’s undergarments and socks.
“Our employees rallied to the cause and we showed up with vehicle-loads of clothing today,” Smith said.
The initiative is employee driving, he added.
“They saw something, they read something, someone told them. We kind of see what the needs of the community are. But other times it’s about going to where the crowds of people are. In past year’s we’ve handed out hot chocolate or went to a Christmas Tree farm or went to a Christmas parade and handed out gift cards, things like that,” Smith said.
Ewa Gulbinowicz, executive director at the Community Clothing Assistance, said the money and the donations couldn’t have come at a better time, with Christmas right around the corner.
The Undercover Program, which provides socks and underwear to area youth in need, has a $40,000 to $50,000 budget every year and every little bit helps.
The impact is enormous, Gulbinowicz said, adding it puts plenty of smiles on the faces of youngsters and removes one more thing for struggling parents to have to worry about.
“For the children, it’s a very big thing to happen because it will improve their self-confidence and it will give them a sense of belonging through the community and the stigma of poverty will be a little bit lower,” Gulbinowicz said.
The donors also get to feel good.
“Everybody who donates items may have a sense of accomplishment for Christmas time and put a smile on their faces as they’ve done everything they can do to help people in need.”
