Companies Who Care

We hope everyone's 2021 is off to a good start! 2020 was a challenge in so many ways. Some have flourished, many have struggled and all of us have had to unite as a community, a province and a country in order to keep everyone healthy and safe. It appears that the latest lockdown is having a positive effect on Ontario's COVID-19 case counts and that is encouraging news. However, we know that these latest measures also mean more business closures and more families struggling t...o put food on the table and a roof over their head. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Companies Who Care worked even harder in 2020 to help our local community, an accomplishment that could not have been achieved without the ongoing support of our many Partner Members. Thank you. We are proud to report that in 2020, we donated a total of $45,000 and helped 13 worthy community service organizations. Our attention was focused on keeping families fed by supporting local food banks and helping our youngest community members weather this storm by supporting children's programs. While we certainly hope that 2021 is a better year for all of us, rest assured we will continue to support our community throughout the pandemic. That is our promise. And of course, we encourage all of those that are in a position to do so, to help others whether by your own efforts and endeavors or by a donation to Companies Who Care. Be safe everyone and let's hope 2021 brings renewed hope and and end to the COVID-19 pandemic!

As we all weather the 2nd wave and make adjustments to Durham's new Red Zone classification, we are reminded that this pandemic is far from over. After nine months, many have depleted their savings and/or emergency funds and just putting dinner on their family's table has become a real challenge. Throughout this pandemic, it has been our goal to ensure our assistance has been as far reaching as possible, and at the very least, that those in need do not have to go without life...'s most basic needs. As such, through the help of our amazing network of donors, or "Partners" as we like to call them, we donated $5,000 to Feed the Need in Durham. For every $1 donated, FTND can collect, store and distribute $7 worth of food to those in need including many local food banks, social service agencies, in-school breakfast programs, shelters, emergency meal programs and soup kitchens. The need has NEVER been greater. We are comforted knowing we can assist Feed the Need to continue the important work they do to ensure our community does not go hungry. Be safe everyone.

We know the effects of COVID-19 have been far reaching. We know that many families have been devastated by mass layoffs, business closures and industry-wide shutdowns, the likes of which we have never seen before. During these unprecedented times, it was important to Companies Who Care that we support causes in our community that would help the greatest number of people, with their most basic human needs, the fastest. As such, we turned our focus to local food banks, an are...a we all know was hit very hard during the pandemic both through a huge increase in user demand as well as a considerable decrease in donations. One of the organization we chose to lend a helping hand to was the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Therese Conference in Courtice. The Church operates a food bank that supports local seniors, families with challenges and single parent households. New health and safety precautions combined with an increase in demand was placing the food bank in a precarious position. Companies Who Care made a donation of $5,000 to ensure that the food bank could continue to help local families during these difficult times. In addition, the donation from CWC provided the food bank with the breathing room needed to ensure they would be able to support these families through the Christmas season as well ensuring continued support during the 2nd wave of the pandemic. We want to take a moment to thank the food bank at St. Vincent de Paul, St. Therese Conference in Courtice and all of their volunteers for continuing to support and feed local families during such trying times.

We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to Their Opportunity for the beautiful gesture of creating The Denis O'Connell Community Fund on what would have been his 73rd birthday. For many years now, Companies Who Care has seen the value of what Their Opportunity does for children in our community and has been a proud supporter of their organization. This Fund will honour Denis' memory in the way he would appreciate most, an undulating wave of kindness and giving that ...will continue for years to come. We love you and we miss you Denis and we will honour your memory by helping others in need. https://www.facebook.com/theiropportunity/posts/3755900767808235

So happy to be able to present to the RMG a donation of $5,000 towards kids summer camp. Due to COVID-19 the RMG was able to provide art kits for their summer camp.

Wishing everyone a great week ahead.

It is with very, heavy hearts that we must announce the passing Denis O'Connell, Co-Founder and Past President of Companies Who Care. Denis always made a point of giving back to the local community. Charitable organizations knew that they could always count on Denis to support their various fundraising events whether it be by a financial donation, auction prize, participation or even just encouraging others to attend or support. Denis truly had a heart of gold and was an ex...ample of what we should all strive to be. Denis, your kindness will never be forgotten by the many whose lives you have touched. Rest in peace dear friend. We miss you already. https://www.arbormemorial.ca//obituar/denis-oconnell/50819

Just a quick Hi to all. Keep safe everyone.

It's hard to believe with all that fluffy white stuff out there that summer camp season will soon be upon us. We have already started receiving support requests from various community service organizations that host kids summer camps for at-risk youth or children from low-income families. A week at summer camp for children from disadvantaged backgrounds can do wonders for their happiness and self-esteem. It allows them an escape from the challenges of poverty and/or a dysfunc...tional home while providing the opportunity to improve interpersonal skills, grow their confidence and just plain have fun in a positive and enriching environment. If it weren't for the support of our Partners and the energy and dedication of the many dedicated organizations running summer camp programming, these children could very well spend the summer sitting at home, alone, in front of the TV. We would like to encourage those offering summer camps to submit their requests for funding and those wishing to sponsor this programming for local children in need to submit their donations. We look forward to providing you with updates in the coming months to advise how many children have been afforded the opportunity to have an amazing summer camp experience thanks to Companies Who Care and its many supporters. Come on summer!!!

Happy New Year everyone! Last month, Companies Who Care celebrated 3 years since our group's initial creation. In those 3 short years, we've earned the trust of 50 Partner Members and raised almost $150,000 for our local community. We have donated 100% of the funds collected to help 37 amazing community service initiatives. Our goal, with the help of our Partners, is to make 2020 even better!

To all of our Partners, our champions and the many community support organizations that have shared their beautiful stories with us, we wish you all the very best this holiday season and look forward to all that 2020 has to bring!

With the holiday season fast approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the many opportunities available to spread some kindness during the holidays. It can be as simple as dropping a few dollars into the Salvation Army's kettle, donating food to a food bank, making a purchase for a toy drive, sending a holiday card to someone in the military, delivering supplies to your local humane society, visiting your local seniors residence, adopting a family for Christmas, volunteering at your local soup kitchen or making a donation to a family member's favourite charity. This list is truly endless. We encourage you to add "spread kindness" to your shopping list this holiday season and make it a family tradition every year!

We are proud to announce that last night, Companies Who Care was presented with a Community Partnership Award from Oshawa Fire Services for our ongoing support of their Alarmed for Life program. Those of you that were in attendance at our last Partners Appreciation & Networking Event had the pleasure of hearing from the City's own Fire Chief Derrick Clark, who explained first hand the impact that Companies Who Care has made in saving lives in at-risk neighbourhoods around Oshawa. We are so proud to have received this honourable award and we hope all our Partner Members will join in celebrating this momentous achievement with us!