“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James
The holiday season isn’t near, it’s here! And you might be stressing about the gifts you need to buy, the meals you need to plan, and all the other trappings this season brings. Sometimes we focus so much on this aspect, we lose the plot. For Staff Shop, we lead by example.
Servant Leadership is the cornerstone of our business approach, with our primary focus being on serving others through our diverse suite of services. This philosophy is woven into everything we do as a company – from business decisions to how we give back to the community.
For the past three Christmases, we have volunteered as a team with several organizations whose goals and purposes align with our company values. While many of society’s issues are present 365 days a year, they are often brought to light and exacerbated as the Christmas season approaches. This is also when the weather starts to really turn cold in our community, highlighting the immediate needs of low-income and unhoused citizens among us.
We have learned that serving others is what fills our cup this time of year. Instead of a staff holiday party, we get together at this critical time of year to help others in need. We also get to bond and enjoy each other’s company for a change, because as a remote business, we’re rarely in the same room together.
Here is a timeline of our December volunteering over the years, including our plans for this year:
- 2025 – Daily Bread Food Bank – This year we are planning on volunteering with the Daily Bread Food Bank. Since 1983, Daily Bread Food Bank has worked to meet emergency needs while advocating for long-term solutions to end poverty. From its 108,000 sq. ft. distribution hub in Etobicoke, it runs 205 programs across Toronto.
- 2024 – Good Shepherd – We served meals at one of the shelters for people experiencing homelessness. Guided by the mission “Never Stop Loving,” Good Shepherd offers a comprehensive range of services, including emergency food and clothing, daily hot meals, emergency shelters, transitional housing, education for homeless and street-involved youth, hospice palliative care, community mental health programs, and supportive housing programs.
- 2023 – Horizons for Youth Shelter & Good Shepherd – We helped wrap gifts for youth experiencing homelessness at Horizon for Youth Shelter. Horizons for Youth offers a safe haven for at-risk and homeless youth aged 16–24 in Toronto, providing the support they need to break free from poverty and build a life off the streets. We also rented a commercial kitchen to bake holiday goodies for Good Shepherd. This was a fun activity to do as a team!
- 2022 – Holiday Helpers – We helped prepare gifts for low-income families through Holiday Helpers. Holiday Helpers Canada is a registered charity that delivers one-time Christmas packages to low-income families with young children, spreading joy, encouragement, and much-needed support.
If you are looking for causes to support, consider the above organizations, or similar charities in your community as part of your workplace holiday activities.
Understanding the Need
Why are the holidays particularly hard for low-income families and homeless people?
Here are some eye-opening facts and stats…
- Service agencies often close or reduce hours in late December, delaying access to essentials like housing applications or job assistance. (Source)
- Toronto remains home to the country’s largest homeless population, where shelters operate near capacity year-round. (Source)
- Indigenous people represent approximately 33% of Canada’s homeless population, while two-thirds (66.7%) of all homeless Canadians are men. (Source)
- Rising prices and limited shelter capacity mean that many low-income Canadians face the holiday season in precarious conditions, underscoring a need for expanded shelter systems and federal poverty-reduction measures. (Source)
- One‑third of low‑income households surveyed in 2024 said they were cutting back or skipping Christmas celebrations entirely because of rising prices and personal debt. (Source)
In general, for many low-income Canadians the Christmas season is a painful reminder of widening inequality, unaffordable living expenses, and the emotional toll of economic insecurity despite national relief efforts. And while we cannot solve all the world’s problems in one afternoon of volunteer work, we can contribute to giving people a dignified and joyful holiday season through hot meals and gift giving. If we all did one small thing this December, we could collectively take care of a lot of people in our communities. You can make a difference in people’s lives.
The Season of Giving Back: How Our Team Gives Back in Their Own Ways
In addition to serving our community as a team, we want to highlight the amazing things our team members do in their own capacity to give back during the holidays. We are a diverse team of caring and compassionate individuals and we want to share their experiences to inspire you to do more inside and outside of work.
“One very easy way we give back during the holidays is through a local Facebook group called Hungry Buns. Hungry Buns is a small, community-based Facebook group that connects neighbours who love to cook with people who could use a good meal. During the holidays—or even throughout the year when we host big dinners—we intentionally make extra portions. Once the food is ready, we post a quick note and photo in the group saying something like, “We’ve got a few extra plates of lasagna and salad ready for pickup—first come, first served!” People in the neighborhood who are food-needy or just going through a tough time can stop by, no questions asked. It’s a very grassroots, trust-based system” — Belinda LeMay, Relationship Manager
“The holiday volunteering we do as a team has become one of my favourite parts of the season. It’s something I had never experienced before joining Staff Shop, and now I can’t imagine the holidays without it. There’s something really special about stepping away from our busy schedules to serve others together, it reminds me why I love what I do and who I do it with.” — Chantal Porter, General Manager, Staffing Services
“Giving my time to a meaningful cause is about supporting others in a tangible way and helping to meet real needs in the community. The holidays can be a difficult time for many, and I hope my small contribution makes the season a little brighter for someone else.” — Adrian Brown, Director, Search Solutions
“On top of volunteering at the Daily Food Bank this year with Staff Shop, I’m contributing through Samaritan’s Purse’s “Operation Christmas Child” program, where we get the opportunity to pick up boxes from church, and pack them with presents and necessities such as fun toys, toothbrushes, school supplies etc. The boxes are delivered to over 170 countries, including over 50 hard-to-reach nations. Now that I have a child of my own, it’s important for me to get her involved, and make contributions together so she understands the realities many children in the world face, along with the impact even small contributions can have. We pick items to donate through the program together, and also go through her toys to donate locally to those who may not be getting gifts in the way she has the privilege of receiving.” — Kirisa Alexander, Search Consultant
“The holiday volunteering we do together has truly become a highlight of the season for me. Before joining Staff Shop, I hadn’t been part of something like this — now, it’s hard to picture the holidays without it. Taking time as a team to give back and support others brings a deeper meaning to the season and reminds me how grateful I am for the work we do and the people I get to do it with.” — Mohammad Alqroum, Operations Executive
Accept the Challenge
Charitable giving and volunteering isn’t just something you do to check a box to say you give back. It’s about doing your part to improve the lives of people living in your own community because we all deserve a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.
We challenge business leaders to help out in their own communities. From office toy drives, to collecting non-parishable food for donation, to in-person volunteering. Choose a cause and make it happen.
If you have any questions about Staff Shop’s philanthropic activities, reach out and we’ll be happy to talk about how you can get started!
“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.” — Washington Irving
