How we celebrated the holidays by paying it forward

While you’re likely dreaming of a beautiful Canadian summer ahead, let’s face it: depending on where you are in Canada, the weather outside might still feel pretty “frightful” (no matter how “delightful” the fire in your fireplace may be)!

So we’re making the best of the snow and putting a festive spin on this month’s Pay it Forward spotlight by looking back to this winter’s earlier days, when Payworks staff from coast to coast used one of their two annual Pay it Forward Days to volunteer in a way that captured the joy and giving spirit of the holiday season.

Brightening the holidays for vulnerable seniors

In the heart of Victoria, BC, Our Place works tirelessly to “build trust and offer hope, dignity and belonging – walking alongside those in Greater Victoria as they move from crisis to stability and from surviving to thriving.”

One of their many initiatives around the holidays is to distribute holiday gifts and cards to vulnerable and unhoused seniors who might otherwise be marking the season alone… and Corporate Account Executive Glenda Plews was eager to help. She was part of a crew who assembled over half of the 110 total packages – which were filled with donations of everything from holiday candy and handmade blankets to coats and sweaters. And each package included a handwritten card from one of the volunteers!

Photo: Glenda and a couple of her fellow volunteers gathered to tackle the gift bags.

“We were told that even just the act of unwrapping a gift is really special,” shared Glenda. “Socks were a particularly big hit – both the kind you wear on your feet as well as Christmas stockings filled to the brim. People liked being able to give others some gifts from their abundant bag. And what we heard back after the holiday luncheon was that it was ‘the best event ever.’”

Showing support for families touched by cancer

The Never Alone Cancer Foundation (NACF) provides “emotional, financial and informational support to patients, families and caregivers affected by cancer” in Manitoba, serving as a critical pillar in the local network of cancer resources. And when the holidays roll around, they roll up their sleeves by offering Hope for the Holidays: a program which brings “joy right to their doorstep.”

A small-but-mighty crew of Payworks volunteers stopped in to wrap packages in anticipation of these festive deliveries, which included a variety of gift items and treats.

One of the Payworks volunteers was Melissa Willard, Senior Quality Assurance Analyst, who reported: "It’s always heartwarming to interact with the people who run the organizations we support and to really understand the work that they do. We spent the afternoon wrapping gifts, which is always a fun activity… and then a puppy showed up at the end of our time there, which made it an even better day!”

Photo: Paying it forward by wrapping gifts for the Never Alone Cancer Foundation’s Hope for the Holidays initiative.

Festive home tours for Hope House

One of the highlights of the holidays in Guelph, ON is the annual Joy Home Tour, where homes decorated for the season are selected for self-guided or group tours. All event proceeds – which exceeded $110,000 this year! – go to Hope House Guelph: a community food and wellness centre that “operates and advocates on the belief that poverty, food insecurity, health and community are all interconnected.”

This year, Corporate Account Executive Brenda Newcombe volunteered as a guide, welcoming visitors into what she describes as “a beautiful custom-built home” and pointing out the route to take to view each space.

Photo: Some of this year’s Joy Home Tour featured spaces, as seen on the Joy Home Tour Instagram page.

“The home was gorgeous,” said Brenda. “Local decorators volunteered their time and product to decorate the house for Christmas. Each room had a Christmas tree and other lovely décor items for the season. Everyone who toured the home had a great time and loved the space… and were glad to know that their purchased ticket would benefit Hope House!”

Looking to join a team where giving back is a given? When it comes to great people, there’s always room for one more. Explore open positions or sign up for Career Alerts here: https://www.payworks.ca/about-us/careers.