Family Gift Match

Each year the Centre provides Holiday Hampers to families in need during the December holiday season.  Caring individuals are assigned a family and provided a list of their needs and wishes, and then purchase/obtain those items.  Volunteer support is needed in the form of a donating family as well as for the administration and execution of this meaningful initiative.

Many families who access the Centre’s mental health services have an added obstacle of extreme poverty that impedes their journey to health. Research tells us that socioeconomically disadvantaged children and youth have the highest rates of suicide, ER visits for deliberate self-harm, and acute care mental health service usage.

The holidays present a further challenge. Society’s expectation of abundant food and gifts is not realistic for these families, often leading to increased distress in the children and parents.

To help bring some joy, we have established a Family Gift Match Program, matching vulnerable families with people in the community to provide some of the desperately needed items. To date, we have matched over 600 families! One parent had never before been able to give her daughter a Christmas gift; last year she was able to because of this program.

If you would like to be matched with a family and to spread some joy this holiday season, please contact us at 
familygiftmatch@georgehull.on.ca