As the school social worker for 4 schools, I am primarily involved in counseling students re: socioemotional support, and also providing crisis support.  My 4 schools are located in Etobicoke, however, the areas that my whole team provides support to is in: Etobicoke, Rexdale, and North York.  Other than this role, during the holidays, I organize donations from a variety of sources—friends, family, parent communities, etc.  I reach out to my colleagues and my own schools asking if have families on their caseload who would benefit from holiday support.  Once they provide me with the names and information, I reach out to the families, asking if they would like gifts (which my friends or I purchase, with donated funds), or if they would like just gift cards.  The parents who request gifts also receive grocery gift cards.  These gifts are wrapped, if they celebrate Christmas, and then these gifts are delivered to the week of December 16th.  These families have been identified by the schools or social workers as those who would benefit from support.  An Etobicoke resident, who operates a local community online newsletter just featured this today, so here’s the link—this explains it a lot more!

Having some of these Kits for a Cause for these kids and families would be so beneficial.  This basically would allow me to use the donated funds for other purposes, and/or add more families, if I receive donated items.  I greatly appreciate anything that can be provided.  During a typical year, I have around 50 families on my list.  The children in these families range in age from babies to older teens.  We also provide gifts, and also fulfill requests from the caregivers, for any caregiver in the family.  There is a need, and it would be so lovely to provide these families with toys as well as other products.  Thank you in advance.