As the leaves turn and the holiday season approaches, one local initiative is already in full swing to ensure no child in Simcoe County is left out of the magic of Christmas. Now in its third year, the Gift a Family campaign—led by Amanda Patrick—is gearing up to deliver full holiday experiences to children who might otherwise go without.
“This campaign is very special for a few reasons,” Patrick shared in a recent interview. “Primarily because we find kids in Simcoe County that aren't already connected to traditional charities and we gift them with full Christmas experiences. So not just the gifts, but everything from the Christmas tree to the dinner to the elf-on-the-shelf—everything to make them feel special and boost their self-esteem.”
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The campaign began as a tribute to three children—Kambel, Pauly and Renee—who tragically passed away 25 years ago in Barrie. “They were playing hide and go seek and found an antique wooden clothing trunk that was airtight,” Patrick recalled. “They stacked on top of each other and waited for eight minutes. In that time, the trunk ran out of oxygen. They fell asleep and passed away in under eight minutes.”
In memory of those children, Gift a Family has provided full Christmases to 91 in the first year, 141 last year, and we want to do 200 this year.
What sets this campaign apart is its deeply personal approach. Families are anonymously nominated—often by someone in the community who knows they’re struggling—and sponsors are matched directly with them. “The sponsors get a direct chat with the parents, they get a custom wish list so they know exactly what they're shopping for,” Patrick explained. “Then they get to see the impact—they meet the parents on drop-off, they get to look in their eyes and see the appreciation.”
One recent nomination stood out to Patrick: a mother of three who had just escaped a domestic abuse situation. “It’s their first Christmas free,” she said. “They’ve never really had a real Christmas.”
With the nomination deadline set for October 31, Patrick is urging the community to act quickly. If you know a family, get them nominated now. If you're thinking about being a sponsor, get in touch right away.
Sponsors can choose to shop themselves or donate financially and have volunteers handle the process. Even smaller contributions—like Christmas lights or food items—are welcome. “Please reach out, and we will make sure that we get it to the drop-off location,” Patrick said.
To nominate a family or become a sponsor, visit giftafamily.ca or follow @giftafamily on Instagram.
