Beaver Staff
The Tree of Hope – Southeastern Ontario’s oldest Holiday Appeal – is kicking off it’s 2020 campaign Nov. 12 by asking people to share a message of hope with the 800 kids it serves.
Run by Family and Children’s Services of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (FACS FLA), the Tree of Hope has been helping kids during the holidays for more than a hundred years. But this year’s campaign is different.
“The kids we serve need a lot of things right now because of COVID-19. One of them is hope,” says John Suart, (FACS FLA) manager of community relations in a release. “We’re asking for people to send the kids we serve a message of hope on Nov.12 to launch our 100-year-old holiday appeal.”
The launch of the 2020 campaign on Nov. 12 has been re-named Hope Day. The campaign is asking people to join them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin to share a short message of hope. It’s a practise the Tree of Hope has done every year following each campaign for the last three years. The Tree of Hope plans to raise $50,000 to help an estimated 800 KFL&A kids. Unlike previous years, the campaign will not be able to collect toys because of the pandemic and instead will be providing gift cards for families to purchase the toys, personal items and winter clothes they need.
“Hope is what this campaign is all about. This has been a tough year for the families we serve. This is our chance to tell these kids that they are not alone. That we care about them. That we want them to be safe and enjoy time with their family especially during this holiday season,” says Suart.
To share a message, get more information or to make a donation to the Tree of Hope people can go to www.HelpTreeofHope.ca.