Thanks to SEIU-West, local sponsors and our partner agencies, children will receive a little cuddly plush friend when they need it most.
For 12 years the StarPhoenix has partnered with special sponsors, local businesses and individual sponsors to provide comfort to Saskatoon kids in the form of a soft and cuddly stuffed toy. This year the StarPhoenix is happy to team up with SEIU-West to bring smiles to little faces even in the most challenging of circumstances.
The Plush Bear program will distribute more than 580 plush toys. Along with stuffed bears, the program will distribute Squishmallows – the super-soft, highly cuddly characters named 2022 Toy of the Year. These squishable bundles of plush-y cuteness will provide comfort and joy to so many children this holiday season.
“We are living in a time that constantly reminds us of the importance of caring for one another,” says StarPhoenix sales manager Heath Mulligan. “Thank you to SEIU-West and all the business and individual donors. We’re thrilled to be able to spread some smiles with you!”
Thanks to our friends at SEIU-West, local businesses and individual sponsors, the StarPhoenix will distribute toys to three charities making a difference in the lives of children right here in Saskatoon: Medavie Ambulance Service, Boys and Girls Clubs of Saskatoon (BGC) and CUMFI (Central Urban Metis Federation Inc.).
Medavie Ambulance Service provides ambulatory transportation for Saskatoon and surrounding communities. Every year, they attend over 1000 emergency calls for kids, including calls attended by the service’s pediatric ambulance. The plush bears are distributed to young clients who are often afraid, confused and hurt.
“The bears have a tremendous impact for the kids,” notes Medavie’s Troy Davies. “They are very scared to be going in an ambulance. [The bears] help reduce the stress of riding in an ambulance.”
Even more importantly, while the young patient is distracted by a cuddly new friend, paramedics can assess them more accurately before transporting them to hospital.
Working in the core neighbourhoods of Saskatoon to create a better quality of life for Indigenous people, CUMFI offers many programs to help families, children and Elders in crisis. The non-profit organization is a national leader in the area of urban Indigenous issues.
The children services CUMFI provides include:
- Emergency Receiving homes: a safe environment for children that is monitored by staff 24/7
- Coming Home homes: designed for parents who require intensive support in order to have their children returned to their care
- Visiting Suites: to facilitate supervised visits with children in foster care
Each year CUMFI distributes bears to children under the age of 13 in their many programs, including providing a Christmas gift for each child.
“CUMFI is so pleased to have the opportunity to bring joy to all the children in our care,” says CUMFI president Shirley Isbister. “A stuffy can be a friend, something to hold onto tight through the trauma of being removed from their homes and someone to cry with… They bring so much joy to all the little faces.”
BGC is a non-profit providing a variety of programs to support children and youth. Their main area of focus is before and after school programming in over 40 schools in Saskatoon and area, plus 10 Mini Clubs and four neighbourhood clubs.
“All of these programs are located in our core areas and our families can use them at no cost,” says Bailie Knowles, community engagement coordinator with BGC.
This year the organization will be distributing the bears through the Pleasant Hill Club, with extra plushies going to the Adopt-A-Family hampers.
“We love this program,” says Knowles. “I know to some people it seems like it’s just another stuffed animal, however, to kids in our programs, it excites them! They don’t often receive gifts, or the holidays can be challenging, so having a comfort item is essential to them!”
This year has been full of challenges for community organizations and individuals alike. In fact, the last couple of years have compounded difficulties for the most vulnerable. When children have their lives turned upside down, it’s important to give them a reason to smile.
“This year we have had more need for hampers, and with inflation, post-pandemic life and other societal issues, we have not received as many donations as in the past. Everyone is struggling in some way,” says Knowles. They continue to accept donations from the public. Information can be found on their social media.
Thank you to the many sponsors who have been part of this special program with the StarPhoenix over the years, sometimes every single year. Your support has given a child in Saskatoon a reason to smile at Christmas and throughout the year.
A word from our sponsor…
On behalf of our members, SEIU-West is delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor the Saskatoon StarPhoenix Plush Bear program for the holidays. As health care providers, community-based organization workers, education support staff, town employees, to name a few, we are on the frontlines of our community every day and we see the need at every turn.
“We hope that these fun characters bring warmth, comfort and cheer to those who receive them,” says Barbara Cape, president of SEIU-West. “Our members want our communities to know that we care about their health, education and community supports and remain there for them when they need us. And this sponsorship allows us to give thanks to our community who supported us through the most significant health crisis we’ve seen.”
From our family to yours, we wish everyone a joyous holiday season and a happy new year!
This section was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division.
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