The holiday season looked different for many of us, including those in need across Niagara. Over the 2020 holiday season, CAA Niagara staff joined to bring cheer to communities across Niagara. As an organization that has always supported our community, CAA Niagara's Light up the Holidays initiative saw employees donate their time and energy to causes close to their hearts.
Discover a few of the initiatives CAA Niagara employees organized to help make the season feel brighter for those in our community.
From left: Rachel Golob, Danielle Petura, Lisa Boardman, Lois Sarkisian, and Erin Clarke at Food4Kids Niagara.
Members of the Journeys by CAA Niagara team kicked off the Light Up the Holidays campaign with their collection of over $200 for CAA Community Boost partner, Food4Kids Niagara! In keeping with the holiday spirit, donations were collected through the sale of treats by a Frosty the Snowman-themed display. Thank you to this team for supporting children across Niagara.
About Food4Kids Niagara
Food4Kids provides packages of healthy food for kids aged 4-14 years with limited or no access to food each weekend. Visit the Food4Kids Niagara website to learn more.
From left: Bob Beck of Meals on Wheels Niagara, Cheryl Henderson, Dolores Jasmine, and Peter Van Hezewyk hold Meals on Wheels donation made by CAA Niagara's Light up the Holidays initiative.
Our Membership and Member Services team spearheaded CAA Niagara's annual Meals on Wheels internal initiative as part of Light Up the Holidays. With the support of the CAA Family they were able to raise $1,000 to support this organization, which provides meals to community members in need.
About Meals on Wheels Niagara
Meals on Wheels is a non-profit, volunteer service providing home delivery of hot and/or frozen nutritious, well-balanced meals to community members in need. Visit the Meals on Wheels website for more information.
Marie Mouradikian of the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre and Mahasti Khoshnoud hold mask donations.
Led by Mahasti Khoshnoud, CAA Niagara Travel Consultant, the St. Catharines Travel team wanted to assist the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre over the holidays. After talking to the organization, the team realized the need for masks which would benefit participants of their English as a second language (ESL) classes, who may have limited resources or are unfamiliar with where to purchase masks. With the support of CAA Niagara and her colleagues, Mahasti was able to donate many masks to the organization.
About the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre
The Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre is a local organization that promotes cultural, social and economic inclusion and well being of all immigrants and newcomers to Canada. Visit the Centre's website to learn more.
Lisa Boardman and Richard Johnson at the Niagara Falls Out of the Cold shelter.
As winter temperatures dip, a growing number of community members who experience poverty and homelessness need additional support. This year, with the help of donations made by colleagues, Lisa Boardman, Travel Product & Vendor Relationship Manager, collected enough items to fill two SUVs. As a long-time supporter of the program, Lisa gather much needed items that included warm clothing, personal hygiene products, and more.
About the Out of the Cold Program
Out of the Cold provides hot meals and shelter to community members who experience poverty and homelessness over the harshest winter months of the year. Visit the Start Me Up website to learn more.
More teams across CAA Niagara took part in the Light up the Holidays initiative, including the Niagara Falls branch which collected Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold donations for the Adopt an Angel, Teen or Senior program. Thank you to both the CAA Niagara Finance team for collecting hygiene products for RAFT, and to the Emergency Roadside Assistance team for supporting The Toolbox Project and Project Share.
We would also like to express our appreciation to the St. Catharines branch for gathering donations for Gillian's Place, our Welland branch for collecting non-perishable groceries and toys for The Salvation Army, and CAA Travel team members for providing a warm cup of Christmas cheer to community crossing guards. Thank you to our employees for helping to make Niagara brighter.
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