JSS 16th Annual Holiday Drive Program: Calling for your generous support

By Chie Takano Reeves
Community Outreach Worker
The season for preparing the annual JSS Holiday Drive program has begun.
In North America, at the beginning of the holiday season, organizations have members who stand on the sidewalks to receive donations from passers-by in order to support the less fortunate members of society. You might have seen campaign titles with the word “drive” in it. The “holiday drives” usually collect food, toys or money, which is then distributed to people in need.
Every year, the JSS Holiday Drive program receives goods and foods from community members from mid-November until mid-December. We deliver these collected gifts to the individuals and families of the Japanese-Canadian community who are in need, in hope that they will have a good and peaceful holiday, as we all wish to have.
This is the 16th year that JSS is holding a Holiday Drive. The items needed are non-perishable dry and canned food (please do not put food that is late-dated i.e. after the “best before” date). Japanese groceries are particularly appreciated, as well as new toys and gifts for children, as well as new clothes. Gift hampers for receiving donations, which will be available from November 15th to December 14th have been placed at the 8 locations. Please click here for more details and locations.
We welcome monetary donations too, as we can purchase food and goods if the collected gifts are not enough. Please attach a note, “For Holiday Drive,” and bring it directly or mail it to JSS. If you wish to make an online payment, please go to the campaign page and click the “donate” button at the bottom of the page. We will issue a tax receipt for donations of $10 or more.
We hope that members of the community will continue to express their goodwill and caring by participating and contributing to this year’s the 16th Holiday Drive. We appreciate your continuous support towards JSS programs.
*We would like to make an announcement that the Toronto Japanese Seventh-day Adventist Church has been added to the donation box locations. We would like to express our gratitude to Pastor Ataru Nakagawa and members of the Toronto Japanese Seventh-day Adventist Church for supporting JSS Holiday Drive program!!
**If you live in Mississauga, Oakville, or Burlington area and have difficulty accessing the existing donation boxes, the pick-up arrangement might be possible depending on our volunteers’ availability. Contact us for more information.