Amma Canada Holiday 2023 Initiatives

Amma Canada Holiday 2023 Initiatives

December tends to be a very busy month for Amma Canada, and this year was no exception!

Amma Canada supports local Halton Hills families in need during the holiday season by sponsoring a family with the Links2Care Holiday Giving Program. Several Toronto Satsang volunteers participated by purchasing items from a preset list including age, gender, and items requested. This year, our shoppers carefully selected purchases for a family of six, including three teenagers, with warm pajamas, track pants, hoodies, hygiene kits, a thoughtful treat item, and a $25 Walmart gift card for each child. Volunteers lovingly packed the Santa gift bags and delivered them on December 8.

Amma Canada also sponsored a fully catered Holiday lunch, supplied by a local Brampton restaurant, for 55 seniors receiving assistance with Links2Care. The delicious festive meals were delivered to the seniors' building by Links2Care staff and included turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Each senior received a festive greeting card, with love from Amma Canada, together with their meal.

Amma Canada continued to support the seniors at Bennett Centre Long Term Care during the holiday season by providing gifts for eight vulnerable residents who have no family or few visitors. Volunteers from the Amma Toronto Satsang made thoughtful purchases from a list suggested by the seniors' caregivers, including a cozy bed comforter, two small televisions, yoga pants, shirts, blouses, and hygiene kits. An Amma Canada volunteer also custom made three Honduras soccer t-shirts and a jersey for one of the seniors (their favourite team). The gifts were sorted and wrapped in festive Santa sacks and delivered to Bennett Centre on Thursday, December 21. Bennett Centre staff shared a sweet photo of one resident who was in disbelief and thrilled as he unwrapped his very own television!

Each of the 66 Bennett Centre residents also received a handcrafted Christmas card inscribed with a cheerful holiday message, all lovingly made by the Toronto Amrita Bala Kendra children, and one Amma Canada volunteer. The recreation staff at Bennett Centre expressed their gratitude for Amma Canada’s continued loving and caring support of the elderly residents.

Last (but not least), On Sunday, December 17, five Amma Canada volunteers baked over 460 cookies for clients of St. Felix Centre's 24-hour homelessness respite program. Br. Ramanandamrita Chaitanya & Kaiva from MA Center DC also joined in the cookie baking! The cookies were dropped off to St. Felix's site at 69 Fraser Avenue on the same day, and gratefully accepted by staff members.

If you are interested in learning more or in helping out next holiday season, please contact Mahita or Nandini Melody or email ammatoronto@ammagroups.org

Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu