Tis' the season of giving and at Uride, we’re doing just that! As part of our ongoing Good Deeds Program, we impacted over 70 local families that we knew could use a helping hand this holiday season. We’re proud to say that this month’s good deed is dedicated to making sure that everyone has exactly what they want (and need) for the holidays,
More Than Just A Gift
For at least one person at Uride, these donations are more than just ‘feel-good’ holiday giving - they’re personal.
Randee Machina, Marketing Manager at Uride, was a part of the foster care system until she was eight years old. She remembers what it felt like to believe that Santa wasn’t able to visit her home. Years later, Randee is passionate about spreading the message that, regardless of circumstances, the holidays are meant to be special for everyone.
“Every month, I lead Uride’s Good Deeds Program, and this one in particular held a spot close to my heart,” said Randee. “My last day in foster care was December 21. Twenty years later I had the opportunity, through Uride, to help ensure that many children and families would receive gifts and have the opportunity to believe in a little holiday magic.”
By partnering with reputable, impactful charities and foster organizations, our aim is to continue contributing to the health, happiness, and well-being of the communities that trust us to provide them with safe and reliable rides.
Helping Hands
Here are all the amazing places that we donated to for this month’s Good Deed:
Kamloops | Christmas Cheer Fund - An initiative of the BC Interior Community Foundation that spreads holiday joy by providing essential and festive items to charity groups.
Kelowna | Kelowna Santas- A locally-run toy drive that accepts gift donations that help support families who are struggling to fill their children’s holiday wishlists.
KRC Community Resources - This family and community center provides much-need social, employment, family, and immigrant services to families through the Okanagan district.
Nanaimo | Great Nanaimo Toy Drive - Operating since 1983, the largest toy drive in Nanaimo, providing four communities with new toys and gifts, including books, stocking stuffers, stuffed animals, and a game or puzzle for each family.
Penticton | Shop Of Wonders- A Christmas pop-up shop that offers a chance for families to explore a store full of brand-new gifts that parents and guardians can pick out (and even wrap!) themselves, completely free of cost.
Prince George | Salvation Army | Adopt A Family - A food program that helps to sponsor hampers to ensure that no community families are without a hot, healthy meal during the holidays.
Vernon | Project Christmas Elf - A holiday project that lets you donate, sponsor, or volunteer to spread kindness by delivering gifts and holiday essentials to families in need.
Grande Prairie | Helping Hands Adopt-A-Family Initiative - An initiative that connects generous hearts with families in crisis to provide gifts and meals for a brighter and warmer holiday season.
Medicine Hat | Santa Claus Fund - A charity that believes that every child deserves a Merry Christmas, providing gifts, meals, and hope to children and families that are struggling over the holidays.
Belleville | Christmas Sharing - Started in 1967, this charity raises funds for gift cards and food hampers that reduce holiday food insecurity for upwards of 3000 children and adults.
Chatham-Kent | Direct donations to kinship foster families - Through connections made by local drivers, Uride was able identify two kinship foster families that required assistance and donate to them directly.
North Bay | North Bay Santa Fund - The largest and longest-running fundraising effort in the city, this fund was created to ensure that, especially during the holidays, no families are without food and no children are without toys.
Peterborough | Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society - Providing child protection and family support programs, this aid society works to ensure that every kid is a ‘safe kid’.
Prince Edward County | Angel Tree - This donation program gives you multiple ways to be an angel to a ‘little angel’ by providing children the exact gifts they’ve written on their holiday wish list.
Sault Ste. Marie| Christmas Gifts | St Vincent Place - This charity works to give the gift of smiles by ensuring that each client they serve has at least one gift this holiday season.
Sudbury | All We Need For Christmas - Created to provide families with essential items for infants, this charity accepts donations for baby food, formula, diapers and other baby necessities.
Thunder Bay | Dilico Anishinabek Family Care - Providing critical services to the Anishinabek people, this family care center caters to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of families within the community.
Timmins | North Eastern Ontario Family and Children's Services - Committed to working for the well-being of children and families, this foundation provides resources, therapy, and support to children and foster families in need of assistance.
Fredericton | Liberty Lane-Christmas - Focused on families that have left violent situations, this program accepts gift sponsorships for adults and children affected by various types of domestic or social violence.
Moncton | What Kids Need Moncton Inc - This program focuses on ending homelessness and poverty for families in the community while also providing free clothing, shoes, diapers, toys, and much more.
Saint John | Saint John Christmas Exchange - This exchange program ensures that families that are not registered with local groups and churches can still receive funds to buy themselves holiday meals and gifts.
Our Commitment to Our Communities
These donations are our way of saying “Thank you”. At Uride, we recognize how lucky we are to have your support. We promise to remain passionate about giving back to the neighborhoods (and neighbors) that have made every ride an incredible journey.