Meet the Families
These are a few of the remarkable families that need the support of the Kingsway College School community to provide relief, hope, and joy this holiday season.
Family numbers are assigned by the George Hull Centre and used as identifiers for the Family Gift Match program.
Parent: Single Mother
Children: Daughter (5)
“This program helped me so much that I was able to eat after feeding my child. It helped my mental health as I didn’t have to worry about how I would provide for my daughter. I didn’t have to worry about buying food. I was able to offer my daughter things that I absolutely would not be able to do, like buy crayons, clothes and a doll, etc.”
This mother has experienced unimaginable hardships but remains steadfast in her determination to create a better life for her daughter. Isolated and without family support, she faces daily financial struggles, constantly juggling the costs of food, rent, and other essentials while living in a small apartment.
She dreams of a brighter future for her family as she works and studies to become self-sufficient. A laptop could make all the difference in her education, giving her the means to excel in school. Our support can alleviate some of this family’s hardships, instilling hope for a brighter future.
Parents: Mother and Father
Children: Daughter (17), Son (16)
This resilient immigrant family was struck by tragedy last year when the father, previously the family’s sole provider, was in a hit-and-run accident that left him paraplegic. He is unlikely to walk again and requires 24/7 care and a personal support worker. This has left the family in a challenging situation with no other relatives in Canada to offer support.
Since the accident, their financial situation has become critical. The mother had to leave her job to care for her husband full-time, and because of language barriers, they are struggling to navigate necessary legal and medical services. To cut expenses, they often skip meals, and only one person in the household has access to a cell phone with data.
When the teenage son was asked if he had a particular wish, he modestly requested a pencil set as sketching is his favourite pastime. This family’s courage and resilience are truly inspiring as they rebuild their lives after this unexpected tragedy.
Parent: Single Mother
Children: Daughter (18), Daughter (15), Daughter (12)
This recent immigrant mother came to Canada with her three daughters, leaving behind an abusive relationship to create a safer future for her family. Despite her traumatic experiences and ongoing mental health challenges, she has made remarkable strides toward self-sufficiency. She completed her GED and is now enrolled in nursing school with the help of OSAP. Her eldest daughter is also pursuing nursing studies, inspired by her mother’s strength and resilience.
This family faces unique challenges as the younger daughters have learning disabilities and require specialized support to thrive in school. In addition to grocery and clothing gift cards, this mother has requested space heaters and blankets to help keep her family warm during the winter months.
Parent: Single Father
Children: Daughter (17), Daughter (16), Daughter (12), Daughter (10), Daughter (9), Son (14)
“I love them all, and although it has been hard, we make it through!
Since gaining full custody in 2020, this devoted dad has taken on the responsibility of caring for his six children entirely on his own. His children have various needs, and the family faces financial challenges. While food gift cards are his primary wish, the dad has also requested gift cards for clothing, school supplies, and games the family can play together. They would love to share a meal together at Nando’s this holiday season—a rare treat that would mean the world to them.
To make their holidays a little brighter, the children have shared a few special wishes including Robux and some noise-cancelling headphones (Skullcandy Crusher). As a valued member of the family, their beloved cat could also use some extra love and treats.
Parent: Single Mother
Children: Daughter (14), Son (20), Son (12)
This dedicated mother is tirelessly working to rebuild stability for her family after facing immense challenges. Her 14-year-old daughter has endured severe trauma and is seeking ways to cope and heal. Music has become a vital outlet for her, and she dreams of learning to play the guitar to find solace and express herself.
This family’s primary needs include food and clothing, but just as important to them is quality time together. Something as simple as sharing a movie at the cinema would be a meaningful experience.
Parent: Single Mother
Children: Son (11)
“The migration of my son and I to Canada has been stressful. We have recently been able to move into an apartment here in Ontario after living in a shelter from another province. My son has numerous exposures to trauma and we are grateful to have George Hull in our lives to help him, and us, as a family. “
This single mom struggles to settle in Canada with her 11-year-old son. She attends school to improve their circumstances but is challenged with financial hardship. She needs items that most of us take for granted - reading glasses (Mom is shortsighted), “2 large boots” for her son, a queen box spring, a sofa, a desktop computer, and two sets of queen bed sheets.
On her wishlist were also simple food items like cereal, hot chocolate, sugar, and vegetables, highlighting their daily challenges.
Parent: Single Mother
Children: Daughter (11), Son (14), Son (9), Son (4)
This mother has had to make the difficult decision to leave her job to care for two of her children, who have health issues. While she seeks assistance with groceries and essentials, one of her critical needs is school uniforms for her children. She has requested navy polos and pants for three of her children, along with a Bishop Allen uniform from McCarthy’s for her teenage son.
Additionally, she dreams of having an apartment-sized washing machine to simplify laundry for her busy household.
Parent: Mother and Father
Children: Daughter (4), Son (6)
“The money is not enough for groceries.”
After the father’s layoff from his job in the automotive industry, this family faced months of financial hardship, with bills piling up and limited funds to cover groceries. The father recently secured a job after tirelessly searching. Unfortunately, it’s minimum wage with inconsistent hours, making it hard to cover essential expenses.
Currently, their primary needs include winter gear, such as snowsuits and boots for the children and winter coats for both parents. With your help, we can provide them with the warmth and stability they need this winter and help ease their path forward.
Parent: Single Mother
Children: Son (18), Son (15)
“Progress has been minimal at times but feels monumental.”
This family has been working with the George Hull Centre to rebuild and strengthen the mother’s bond with her two teenage sons. They are learning coping skills to manage a tense relationship and gradually restore their mother-son connection. To support this growth, the mother seeks shared experiences that unite them, such as movies, sports events, swimming passes, and board games.
They have a definite need for clothing for their family.
Parent: Mother and Father
Children: Daughter (6), Daughter (2.5), Daughter (1)
This family struggles with a salary that doesn’t stretch far enough to cover rent and groceries. The mother, determined to support her children, walks long distances to access essential services from the George Hull Centre. They are in need of winter clothing and boots for each family member, as well as bedsheets in double, twin, and crib sizes to keep them comfortable through the colder months.
Their "extra" wishlist includes basic items like pots for cooking, diapers, books, and a carpet to create a cozy space for the children to play.
This holiday season, your generosity can go even further!
One amazing family from our community has pledged to match every grocery or Walmart Gift Card donation of $500 or more supporting the Above and Beyond RFTS program, with up to $10,000 cash. This means your gift will have double the impact – letting us support even more families to meet their basic needs this holiday season.
If you would like to contribute to this initiative, please reach out to Tania da Fonseca at [email protected] for details