NEWS RELEASE
ST. JOSEPH'S FOUNDATION
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THUNDER BAY – St. Joseph’s Foundation kicks off the 6th Annual Be Their Secret Santa program to make Christmas brighter for clients of St. Joseph’s Care Group.
For the past five years, St. Joseph’s Foundation has provided gifts at Christmas time to clients through the Be Their Secret Santa program. The program provides gifts and visits to clients who will be spending Christmas alone in care at St. Joseph’s Care Group sites. In 2019, this program brought joy to 325 clients.
The organization has set a goal to deliver gifts to over 400 clients who find this season to be a lonely time. Gail Brescia, executive director for St. Joseph’s Foundation says, “We know the need is greater this year. We believe we will need to provide 400 gifts. The increase is due to the anticipated 2nd wave of COVID-19 and the increase of travel and visiting restrictions. Each gift will include a brand new pair of pajamas or a blanket, a pair of socks or mitts and a special festive treat. The joy that our clients feel when a volunteer delivers the gift and spends some time visiting is priceless.”
Be Their Secret Santa relies on the generosity of our community. This year we will be changing the program to reduce the exposure to clients and staff as well as to comply with restrictions in place at our sites. This year, any in-kind gifts will be quarantined. For this reason, we are focusing our appeal to Thunder Bay and asking for monetary support. St. Joseph’s Foundation staff will purchase items directly from local stores. The items will be quarantined and sanitized prior to being given to clients.
Chair of St. Joseph’s Foundation Board of Directors Tom Beck says; “While Christmas is traditionally seen as a joyous time, for many clients in care, the holiday season is a lonely time. If it weren’t for the Be Their Secret Santa program many clients at St. Joseph’s Care Group would not receive a Christmas gift or visit this year. Some of our clients do not have family that can afford to give them a gift, and many do not have family involved at all. This is the season of giving and supporting the “Be Their Secret Santa” program is a wonderful way to feel the spirit of Christmas. We hope anyone who can, will make a donation to the program.”
You can support the Be Their Secret Santa program by making a donation at the Foundation office located in St. Joseph’s Heritage (63 Carrie Street), online at www.sjftb.net/santa, or call 807-768-4404.
