The Sarnia Building and Construction Trades Council has significantly increased their support to local charities this holiday season.
Council President John Swart gave $2,500 donations this week to both the Inn of the Good Shepherd and to CHOK's Gift of Christmas for the Salvation Army.
"We normally give out a cheque for $500 [to the Salvation Army], this year we decided to increase our portion from the building trades by five times of what we normally did," said Swart. "We added the Inn of the Good Shepherd also and donated this year to them too."
Swart issued a friendly challenge to members of the Sarnia Construction Association to top up their donations as well.
"It's the time of giving right now and the community really needs help," he said.
Salvation Army Lieutenant Brad Webster said the donation is much appreciated.
"The demand has gone up," said Webster. "The increase in our use of food bank, our programs, has all gone up since March and any donation is huge."
He said over 600 families applied for the hamper and toy program this year, which will help over 1,300 people.
"This year we're seeing families who have never accessed our facility before. A lot of them are donors, who used to be our donors, are now coming in and saying 'I never thought I'd be here,' and they're now on the other side."
Webster is comforted to see the community step up to help with the increased need.
"The response from the community has been absolutely overwhelming. Our kettles are on point, our donations through companies, through just the general public coming in and dropping off donations, has been just unbelievable."
Inn of the Good Shepherd Executive Director Myles Vanni admits this holiday season is very unusual and said the donation will help spread joy.
"There's so many restrictions, but we're trying to deliver Christmas to our families as best as we can, give them some normal in a very abnormal world," said Vanni. "So we're doing our children's Christmas party. It's going to be an outside event, small groups, we scheduled several little parties and families, one at a time, will be able to come into the dining room and have a special moment with Santa and get a toy and a stocking."
Vanni said almost 400 families have been "adopted" this Christmas, a 25 per cent increase from last year.
"We're trying to grant those kids wishes. Things that they really want, we find out their wishes and our sponsors are out shopping for them."
(From L to R) COOL 106.3's Max Major, Sarnia-Lambton Building Trades President John Swart, Inn of the Good Shepherd Executive Director Myles Vanni and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 530's Sarnia business manager Frank Harris.
Vanni said pre-COVID, they had 35 people in shelter and Tuesday night 172 people were in their care in motels and hotels throughout the city.
He said gift bags and hot turkey meals will be distributed to those individuals on Christmas Eve.
Vanni said over 1,400 pounds of household items, toiletries and cleaning supplies, were collected during 99.9 The Fox's Family to Family event with Tepperman's last week.
Residents can donate non-perishables to the Inn during COOL 106.3's holiday food drive this Friday at Home Depot from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
