The Olive Tree is just starting to distribute it’s new 2023-24 Gift Guide, with similar content to last year’s edition held by executive director Becky Schille. Source File Photo
Jingle bells are ringing at The Olive Tree with the distribution of the charity’s new Gift Guide 2023-24 underway.
Printed copies of the guide are available this week from the organization’s thrift store and Reclaim used furniture store and online as well.
“There’s 2,000 going out in the paper and they will be dropped off at different locations around the city,” said the organization’s COO, Jana Thompson.
The popular guide was delivered to Thompson last Friday with copies expected to fly off the shelves.
“We love doing it every year. Many community members pick it up to see what’s new in there and make a donation through it. We love the response,” said Thompson.
The Gift Guide includes suggestions on how to support a local family, for example, or The Olive Tree itself this holiday season as they celebrate their 10th anniversary.
“We have our programs listed in it. It also talks about how you can get involved through donating monetary wise or through programs and volunteering and things like that,” said Thompson.
There’s also something called the Gifts of Hope program to donate to the food bank, community meals, seniors programs, the Gift of Christmas for kids and Christmas hampers provided by The Olive Tree.
“New to the guide this year is our Homebase starter kit; you can actually provide a little box for a new home base client that is newly set up in a home,” said Thompson
Homebase is a new outreach program to create a welcoming environment when housing someone.
The housing starter kit includes things like towels and toiletries, cleaning supplies, a cozy blanket, bedding and pantry staples.
Thompson says the Christmas hamper program is just getting started, but she expects the demand will be higher than it was last year because of affordability factors.
“We’re hoping we collect enough money and food donations in order to fully do all our food hampers and also have Christmas sponsorships happening,” said Thompson.
There are about 20 different families in that program this year.
“It provides a nice Christmas experience for someone who might not have the means to enjoy Christmas,” said Thompson.
Last year, The Olive Tree distributed 6,671 hampers and more than $1.1 million worth of food to their food rescue partners and community groups and served almost 15,000 meals.
“This year, we are on track to hit the same numbers because of donations going down,” said Thompson due to the higher cost of purchasing food.
“We are thankful to our community members for donating and just different sponsorships and businesses that have been giving us funds in order to maintain our operations.”
It’s all hands on deck at The Olive Tree in late November with so many programs going on at once.
“The Christmas spirit is already thriving,” said Thompson.
One of her favourite programs is the Gift of Christmas in partnership with Real Country 95.9 to provide local kids with a gift under the tree.
“Especially with me having kids. I think it’s so important we help with this program and partner with them,” said Thompson.
“You never know which kid may not get a toy and even that experience of going to school and one kid having a toy and another not can be a really sad moment in a child’s life.”
There were a total of 1,020 kids who received a toy last year.
“It’s grown every year since we partnered with Real Country. We’re really excited to see how that program works this year,” said Thompson.
“So we love to be able to give a child a toy and help needy families that may not be able to afford it.”
