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39 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,D ecem ber 2,2021 insidehalton.com There are plenty of opportuni- ties to help those experiencing fi- nancial hardship across Halton this Christmas. Similar to last season, chari- ties are finding the numbers of those who use their services con- tinue to grow, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you have an extra gently used winter coat to donate, or love chocolate, there are plen- ty of ways to give. Here are a few, and more will be added as they come to our attention. OAKVILLE MEALS ON WHEELS Oakville Meals on Wheels (OMoW) currently has two fes- tive campaigns, the Purdys Choc- olate fundraising campaign and the Reindeer Gift Box campaign. The Purdys Chocolate cam- paign runs until Nov. 27 with 25 per cent of all sales through the Purdys holiday catalogue coming back to the organization. To join the campaign, go to https:// www.fundraising.pur- dys.com/1313823-87276 and enter your email address. Pick up will be at the OMoW office during the third week of December. Running until Nov. 30 is the Reindeer Gift Box campaign. Ev- ery Reindeer Gift Box purchased will be delivered to an OMoW cli- ent in their holiday gift bag. Or- der a Reindeer Gift Box for a cli- ent by clicking here: https:// www.donorbox.org/reindeer- gift-box. For more information, visit: www.oakvillemealsonwheel- s.com. FILL A PURSE FOR A SISTER Friends Dianne Pruitt, Joyce Sharkey and Angie McMahon, who started Fill a Purse for a Sis- ter three years ago, hope to top the 147 purses and backpacks they filled last year for homeless women and women in shelters in Burlington and Hamilton. This year, purses have been provided to the women, but they welcome donations of hygiene products, socks, hats, gloves and scarves. Among the agencies they have supported are Halton Compas- sion Society, Women's Centre of Halton, Phoenix Place, The Good Shepherd, Interval House, Carole Anne's Place and Mission Servic- es. Deadline for donations is Dec. 8. If you wish to contact Pruitt, email ladydmp53@gmail.com or text 905-407-1393. OAKVILLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION The Oakville Community Foundation has launched the GI- VEOakville campaign, running until Dec. 13 with a redesigned platform. GIVEOakville is a holiday-giv- ing campaign that features doz- ens of charities in the Oakville and Halton area. Charities re- quest up to $25,000 to support their programs and missions, which is then crowdfunded by do- nors on the GIVEOakville plat- form. The platform redesign pro- vides donors the ability to fur- ther explore the charities with in- teractive descriptions, including videos. The cause categories in- clude: Arts & Culture, Children, Youth & Families, Education & Employment, Environment & Animal Rights, Health & Well- ness and Community. Charities receive 100 per cent of the donations made to them, and donors receive a tax receipt. The GIVEOakville crowdfunding platform also makes it possible to give to multiple charities in a sin- gle transaction. For this year's campaign, the foundation will be providing $150,000 in funding support. These funds will be allocated on a prorated basis as a top-up to all organizations who received sup- port during GIVEOakville, but were not fully funded. In addi- tion, $22,500 has been allocated for BIPOC-led (Black, Indige- nous, People of Colour) and gen- der equity charities as part of the foundation's priority to reduce inequalities. To donate today, go to www.gi- veoakville.com. PARKERS CLEANERS Until Dec. 10, Parkers Clean- ers at Upper Oakville Shopping Centre will be accepting dona- tions of gently used and new kids and adult winter coats, snowsuits and snow pants. Donations will be cleaned and delivered to Safetynet Children & Youth Charities for distribution to those in need this year. PLENTY OF WAYS TO HELP OTHERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Gently used and new winter coats can be dropped off at Parkers Cleaners, where they will be cleaned and sent to SafetyNet Children and Youth Charities. Parkers Cleaners photo NEWS Oakville Firefighters' Drive-Thru Toy DriveDrive-Thru Toy Drive Friday, December 10, 2021 5 to 9 p.m. at Coronation Park Visit oakville.ca for event details, driving directions, accepted donations, and more. The family business that service built.