The Great Canadian Gift Box charity is looking to fill 1,000 Ziploc bags filled with necessities for the homeless this holiday season.
The charity was started in 2018 by three local Bradford women, Jenny DiPietro, Lisa Michel, and Natasha Creighton, and has since expanded all across Simcoe County.
DiPietro was inspired to start her own charity after taking part in the annual Operation Christmas Child shoebox initiative with her kids, filling them with toys for those in need.
"Then I thought, I could probably do this for more local (people)," she said.
So she brought the idea to Michel and Creighton, and together they came up with the Great Canadian Gift Box charity, filling wrapped shoeboxes with toiletries and gift cards for the community's most vulnerable.
"We all kind of put our heads together and figured this out," said DiPietro.
This year, due to COVID rules, the charity is asking for residents to fill up Ziploc bags instead of boxes.
In order to help make them more festive, they are invoking the help of local organizations and schools to create cards to go with the bags.
The charity is looking for any businesses looking to help donate Ziploc bags for this year's initiative.
Filled bags can be dropped off at the following locations in South Simcoe until the end of the drive on Dec. 10:
- DS2 Tattoos and Piercings in Stroud
- Barrie Ford
- Hacienda Santa Teresa in Bradford
- Gino's Pizza in Bradford
Once received, the bags will be distributed at various organizations throughout the county including the Busby Centre, Bradford LOFT House, The Lighthouse.
A list of some of the items that can be put in the bags include:
- Chapstick
- Baby wipes
- First Aid Kit
- Tampons
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hand cream
- Condoms
- Hat
- Underwear
- Blanket
- Socks
- Can Opener
- Rubber bands
- Batteries
- Garbage bags
The charity has grown over the past three years, and now has five board members, including the three founding members, a social media influencer and a community event coordinator.
In the next couple of weeks, the group is hoping to be more visible in the community and raise awareness about the drive, by taking part in holiday events such as craft shows and parades.
The ladies are currently working to have their charity officially registered, and are working on getting a website made.
"We are looking to get registered hopefully by next year," said DiPietro.
ESigns Canada has agreed to sponsor this year's event by providing free signs for the initiative.
Gino's Pizza is donating pizza to the group's wrap party event, taking place on Dec. 5.
"It's going to be smaller, because of COVID, we can't have huge numbers," explained DiPietro, noting that one of the local sports teams will be taking part in stuffing the bags this year.
"We do get donations, not of just stuffed bags but things like 1000 pairs of socks, (that need to be bagged)," explained DiPietro. "We will take what we can and get the boys (sports team) to fill that up."
The goal this year is to stuff at least 1,000 bags. In 2018, the charity collected over 750 boxes filled with necessities for the drive.
Anyone interested in taking part or making a donation can contact the charity directly at [email protected]