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Holiday Helping Hand
November 7, 2022 - December 18, 2022
United Way’s Holiday Helping Hand
It’s that time of year, so let’s spread some community cheer! United Way Halton & Hamilton’s Holiday Helping Hand program is the jolliest way to give back and bring a dash of joy to those who need it most. Whether it’s crafting handmade decorations in support of a local agency, adopting a family in need, or donating to a gift drive, taking part in our Holiday Helping Hand program makes the days merry and bright!
Opportunities are listed below. Registration deadline for adopt-a-family and gift drive is December 9. All adopt-a-family and gift drive items must be dropped off to our Community Donation Warehouse in Burlington, on December 12 and 13, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional details will be provided with registration confirmation.
Please consider supporting local businesses this holiday season!
How to Sign Up:
- Register below for your preferred project. Registration for volunteer projects is first-come, first-served, so please be sure that each member in your group registers to reserve their spot.
- Only one registrant per adopt-a-family opportunity.
- After registering, you will receive confirmation from UWHH, along with project details.
- If you have any questions, or if your group would like to adopt 10 or more families, please email Kayla Willet, kwillet@uwhh.ca
*Please note: If project registration page reads “No tickets available,” it means the opportunity has sold out.
Thank you to our generous sponsor!
VOLUNTEERING
Agency: Food for Life
Project: Food for Life focuses on securing, sorting, and sharing fresh, perishable food. Team experiences focus on sorting and packing community bags that drivers can deliver to more than 80 agencies and Food for Life programs in Halton and beyond. Volunteers will assist with sorting and packing community bags that drivers deliver.
Min # of Volunteers: 5 per shift
Max # of Volunteers: 25 per shift
*This opportunity is open to youth 13+*
Date: Thursday Dec. 1
Time: 1 – 3:30 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Date: Tuesday Dec. 13
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Agency: Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services of Halton (SAVIS)
Project: SAVIS offers free and confidential 24/7, one-on-one crisis counselling services, with no judgment, just support. SAVIS offers additional resources to their clients when/as needed, including health & wellness supplies, clothing and housewares, etc. Volunteers will help to sort, categorize and re-organize these items at the SAVIS office.
Min # of Volunteers: 2
Max # of Volunteers: 3
Date: Tuesday Nov. 29
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Agency: YWCA Hamilton
Project: Calling all crafters! YWCA Hamilton needs your help to make homemade holiday decorations to help bring the holiday spirit to our Putman Family YWCA. Volunteers are asked to make non-denominational holiday decorations or write some non-denominational holiday greeting cards to be displayed over the holidays (examples: snowflakes, snowmen, candy canes, winter scenes, etc.)
Unlimited Volunteers – Go at Your Own Pace
*This opportunity is open to youth 13+*
Date: Drop off items to the UWHH Community Donation Warehouse on Dec. 12 & 13
Time: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Details & registration: Click Here
Toys R Us & Ontario Provincial Police in Support of UWHH
Project: Toys R Us and Ontario Provincial Police have teamed up for Operation: Toy Drive in support of United Way Halton & Hamilton. The OPP mobile command centre will be at Toys R Us on Hamilton Mountain, where the community will try to fill the command centre with toys in support of UWHH’s Holiday program. Energetic volunteers will help collect the toys and add them into the cruiser and encourage shoppers to purchase a toy for a family in need.
Min # of Volunteers: 1 per shift
Max # of Volunteers: 4 per shift
*This opportunity is open to youth 13+*
Date: Wednesday Dec 14
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: FULL
Date: Wednesday Dec 14
Time: 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: FULL
Date: Thursday Dec 15
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: Click Here
Date: Thursday Dec 15
Time: 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: Click Here
Date: Friday Dec 16
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: FULL
Date: Friday Dec 16
Time: 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: FULL
Date: Saturday Dec 17
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: FULL
Date: Saturday Dec 17
Time: 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: FULL
Date: Sunday Dec 18
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: FULL
Date: Sunday Dec 18
Time: 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Details & Registration: FULL
Agency – Community Living Burlington
Project: Calling all musicians! CLB is looking for musicians and volunteers to perform at their virtual Holiday concert. Clients accessing CLB’s virtual music program love watching other people perform and entertain. Volunteers are asked to prepare an act to perform live virtually on Dec 22. Event link will be set out to registrants closer to the date.
Unlimited # of Volunteers
Date: Thursday Dec. 22
Time: 7 – 8:15 p.m.
Details & Registration: Click Here
Agency – Community Living Oakville
Project: Volunteers are needed to decorate outdoor holiday urns. Volunteers are asked to purchase all the necessary items and decorate the urns at their own pace. This is a wonderful way to brighten up the long days and build holiday season anticipation!
Unlimited # of Volunteers
Time: Go at Your Own Pace
Date: Urns must be dropped off at the UWHH Community Donation Warehouse in Burlington on Dec. 12 or 13. A link with more details to schedule a drop-off time provided with registration.
Details & Registration: Click Here
Agency: Community Development Halton
United Way Halton & Hamilton Holiday Program
Project: In December, the UWHH Community Donation Warehouse is magically transformed into the Holiday Helping Hand workshop. Volunteers will help to receive, organize and distribute wish list and gift drive donations. Several shifts are available:
Min # of Volunteers: 1 per shift
Max # of Volunteers: 4 per shift
Drop Off Days
Donors will be dropping off gifts on these days. Volunteers will be responsible for greeting donors, unloading cars, sorting and repacking donations by agency and taking photos/posting on social media.
Date: Monday Dec. 12
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Date: Monday Dec. 12
Time: 2 – 6 p.m.
Details & registration: Click Here
Date: Tuesday Dec. 13
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Date: Tuesday Dec. 13
Time: 2 – 6 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Sort Day
Volunteers will be responsible for sorting donations, packing boxes and/or skids of donations for each recipient agency, cleaning/organizing the warehouse space.
Date: Wednesday Dec. 14
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Date: Wednesday Dec. 14
Time: 1 – 4 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Pick Up Days
Agencies will be picking up their assigned donations on these days. Volunteers will be responsible for greeting agencies, bringing donations to the loading dock, packing cars, taking photos/posting on social media, general warehouse tidying.
Date: Thursday Dec. 15
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Details & registration: FULL
Date: Thursday Dec. 15
Time: 2 – 6 p.m.
Details & registration: Full
Date: Friday Dec. 16
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Details & registration: Click Here
Date: Friday Dec. 16
Time: 2 – 6 p.m.
Details & registration: Click Here
United Way Gift Drive & Kit Packing
Give back and get in the holiday spirit! Purchase a gift, run a gift drive with coworkers or friends, or create kits to help make the season merry and bright for all!
*Please note that all items must be dropped off at our Community Donation Warehouse on December 12 & 13, 9:00 a.m. – 6 p.m. (A link to schedule your drop off time will be provided upon registration.)
If shopping online, please ship all items to your home address and drop them off at the Community Warehouse during the above times. The UWHH cannot accept items shipped directly to the Community Warehouse. Additional details provided with registration, including suggested/needed items.
Date: Gift drive and kit registration closes Dec. 9
United Way Community Gift Drive
Suggested items provided with registration.
Details & Registration: Click Here
Personal Hygiene Kit
With the rising cost of inflation, many people are struggling to afford basic necessities, such as hygiene items. Organizations have reached out to UWHH asking for help with hygiene supplies for the clients they support.
We are looking for volunteers to purchase a variety of hygiene items and assemble kits for people in need. We need a variety of both male and female supplies. Suggested items provided with registration.
Unlimited Volunteers
Details & Registration: Click Here
Baby Supplies Kit
Over the holidays, many parents struggle to make ends meet as they take on additional expenses. Baby essentials are one of the biggest needs for mothers and families experiencing poverty. They are expensive. UWHH is looking for volunteers to purchase items and build kits that have supplies that can last for at least a month. Suggested items provided with registration.
Unlimited Volunteers
Details & Registration: Click Here
R.O.C.K. Winter Clothing Drive
R.O.C.K. (Reach Out Centre for Kids) is looking for gently-used winter clothing items in a variety of sizes—children, youth and adult. Items must be new or in excellent used condition, including coats, boots, snow pants, mittens and hats.
Unlimited Volunteers
Details & Registration: Click Here
Adopt a Family
*Please note that all items must be dropped off at our Community Donation Warehouse on December 13 & 14, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (A link to schedule your drop off time will be provided upon registration.)
If shopping online, please ship all items to your home address and drop them off at the Community Warehouse during the above times. The UWHH cannot accept items shipped directly to the Community Warehouse. Details provided with registration, including Wish List.
*Additional holiday adoption opportunities will be updated weekly.
Community Living Oakville Individual 10
Man, age 25
Details & Registration: Full
Community Living Oakville Individual 11
Woman, age 45
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 12
Man, age 55
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 13
Man, age 60
Details & Registration: Full
Community Living Oakville Individual 14
Woman, age 55
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 15
Woman, age 55
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 16
Man, age 50
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 17
Woman, age 45
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 18
Woman, age 55
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 19
Man, age 50
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 20
Man, age 40
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 21
Woman, age 65
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 22
Man, age 60
Details & Registration: Full
Community Living Oakville Individual 23
Woman, age 30
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 24
Woman, age 55
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 25
Woman, age 45
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 26
Man, age 35
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 27
Man, age 60
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 28
Man, age 45
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville Individual 29
Woman, 25
Details & Registration: Click Here
Community Living Oakville – Individual 9
Man (age 36)
Details & Registration: Click Here
Hope Place Centres – Family 1
Mother, Father, Son (age 28)
Details & Registration: Full
R.O.C.K. Family 11
Mother, Child (age 21), Child (age 18)
Details & Registration: Full
R.O.C.K. Family 14
Mother, Father, Son (age 15), Daughter (age 10)
Details & Registration: Full
R.O.C.K. Family 21
Mother, daughters (10, 7, 5), son (13)
Details & Registration: Full
R.O.C.K. Family 22
Mother, sons (13, 10, 8, 9mths)
Details & Registration: Full
R.O.C.K. Family 23
Mother, Father, son (5), daughter (2)
Details & Registration: Full
R.O.C.K. Family 24
Mother, father, daughter (15), son (12)
Details & Registration: Click Here
R.O.C.K. Family 25
Mother, daughter (15), son
Details & Registration: Click Here
R.O.C.K. Family 26
Mother, father, sons (17, 5)
Details & Registration: Click Here
R.O.C.K. Family 27
Mother, father, son (14)
Details & Registration: Click Here
R.O.C.K. Family 28
Mother, father, son (4)
Details & Registration: Click Here
Lighthouse Family 1
Mother, daughters (17, 14, 10)
Details & Registration: Click Here
YWCA – Individual 1
29 years old
Details & Registration: Click Here
YWCA – Individual 3
Woman, 25 years old
Details & Registration: Full
YWCA Individual 7
Non-binary, age 24
Details & Registration: Click Here
YWCA Individual 8
Woman, age 37
Details & Registration: Click Here
YWCA Individual 9
Woman, age 39
Details & Registration: Click Here
YWCA Individual 13
Woman, age 28
Details & Registration: Click Here
YWCA Individual 14
Woman, age 29
Details & Registration: Full
YWCA Family 7
Mother, daughter (4)
Details & Registration: Full
YWCA Family 8
Mother, daughters (5, 1)
Details & Registration: Full
YWCA Family 9
Mother, son (2)
Details & Registration: Full
YWCA Family 10
Mother, sons (8,6), daughter (4)
Details & Registration: Full
YWCA Family 11
Mother, daughter (2)
Details & Registration: Full
YWCA Individual 15
Woman, age 35
Details & Registration: Click Here
YWCA Individual 16
Woman, age 63
Details & Registration: Click Here
YWCA Individual 17
Woman, age 59
Details & Registration: Click Here
OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE FULL
Acclaim – Individual 1
Woman, age 74
Details & Registration: FULL
Acclaim – Individual 2
Woman
Details & Registration: FULL
Acclaim – Individual 3
Woman
Details & Registration: FULL
Acclaim – Individual 4
Woman, age 89
Details & Registration: FULL
Acclaim – Individual 5
Man, age 75
Details & Registration: FULL
ArtHouse – Family 1
Mother, two daughters, age 12
Details & Registration: FULL
ArtHouse – Family 2
Grandmother, mother, daughters (ages 15, 6), sons (ages 13, 1)
Details & Registration: FULL
ArtHouse – Family 3
Mother, son (age 8), daughter (age 6)
Details & Registration: FULL
ArtHouse – Family 4
Grandmother, granddaughter (age 13)
Details & Registration: FULL
ArtHouse – Family 5
Mother, father, daughter (13), son (1)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 1
Mother, child (12)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 2
Mother, children (13, 11, 9)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 3
Mother, children (11, 8, 2)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 4
Mother, child (9)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 5
Mother, child (13)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 6
Mother, child (13)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 7
Mother, children (12, 11, 10)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 8
Mother, children (13,12)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 9
Mother, child (12)
Details & Registration: FULL
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Family 10
Mother, children (16,14)
Details & Registration: FULL
BBBS Family 11
Mother, Child (age 15)
Details & registration: FULL
BBBS Family 12
Mother, Children (ages 13, 10)
Details & registration: FULL
BBBS Family 13
Mother, Child (age 14)
Details & registration: FULL
BBBS Family 14
Mother, Children (ages 10, 9, 5, 2)
Details & registration: FULL
BBBS Family 15
Father, Children (ages 10, 9, 8, 2)
Details & registration: FULL
BBBS Family 16
Mother, Children (ages 14, 11)
Details & registration: FULL
BBBS Family 17
Mother, Children (ages 16, 12, 4, 3)
Details & registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Individual 8
Man (age 27)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Burlington – Adult Group Home
Two women (ages 69, 77), four men (ages 35, 36, 58, 63)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Adult Group Home 1
Women (ages 75, 62, 58, 76, 61)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Individual 1
Man (age 65)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Individual 2
Man (age 58)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Individual 3
Man (age 64)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Individual 4
Man (age 48)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Individual 5
Man (age 32)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Individual 6
Man (age 55)
Details & Registration: FULL
Community Living Oakville – Individual 7
Man (age 31)
Details & Registration: FULL
Hope Place Centres – Family 2
Mother, Father, Daughter (age 3), Daughter (age 7 weeks)
Details & Registration: FULL
Hope Place Centres – Family 3
Mother, Son (age 10 months)
Details & Registration: FULL
Hope Place Centres – Individual 1
Man (age 55)
Details & Registration: FULL
Milton Community Resource Centre – Family 1
Grandmother, mother, children (18 months, 1 month)
Details & Registration: FULL
Milton Community Resource Centre – Family 2
Mother, son (12), grandson (3)
Details & Registration: FULL
Oakville Parent-Child Centre – Family 1
Mother, Son (age 6)
Details & Registration: FULL
Oakville Parent-Child Centre – Family 2
Mother, Father, Daughter (age 16) Son (age 12)
Details & Registration: FULL
Oakville Parent-Child Centre – Family 3
Mother, Child (age 7)
Details & Registration: FULL
Oakville Parent-Child Centre – Family 4
Mother, Father, Son (age 3)
Details & Registration: FULL
Thrive Counselling – Family 1
Mother, Child (age 8)
Details & Registration: FULL
Oakville Parent-Child Centre – Family 5
Mother, Father, Son (age 19), Daughter (age 15)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. Family 12
Mother, Son (age 7)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. Family 13
Mother, Son (age 15), Daughter (age 7)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. Family 15
Mother, Father, Son (age 12), Daughter (age 6)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. Family 16
Mother, Father, Son (age 15), Son (age 12), Son (age 8)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. Family 17
Grandmother, Grandfather, Mother, Son (age 14), Daughter (age 7), Daughter (age 5)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. Family 18
Mother, Father, Son (age 16), Son (age 10), Daughter (age 13), Daughter (age 9)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. Family 19
Mother, Child (age 11)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. Family 20
Mother, Father, Child (age 9), Child (age 7), Child (age 5)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 1
Care Giver, Son (10)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 2
Mother, Children (15, 11)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 3
Mother, Son (10), Daughter (7)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 4
Mother, Son (6)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 5
Mother, Sons (17, 3), Daughters (14, 4)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 6
Mother, Daughters (16, 6), Son (13)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 7
Mother, Father, Children (7.5, 5.5)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 8
Mother, Father, Children (20, 19, 16)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 9
Mother, Child (age 6)
Details & Registration: FULL
R.O.C.K. – Family 10
Mother, Child (age 3.5)
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA – Individual 2
Woman, 35 years old
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA – Individual 4
Woman, 62 years old
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA – Individual 5
Woman, 19 years old
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA – Individual 6
Woman, 20 years old
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA – Family 1
Mother, daughters (8, 4, 1), son (6)
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA – Family 2
Mother, children (3, 1)
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA – Family 3
Mother, children (8, 4)
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA – Family 4
Mother, son (8), daughter (10)
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA Individual 10
Woman, age 60
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA Individual 11
Woman, age 46
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA Individual 12
Woman, age 57
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA Family 5
Mother, sons (14, 12, 8)
Details & Registration: FULL
YWCA Family 6
Mother, daughter (3), son (1)
Details & Registration: FULL