Reachout Committee delivering Christmas dinner and gifts for families

BY: JELANI GRANT 

The Reachout Committee is scheduled to provide the community with another night of giving, holding their 13th Annual Dinner With Santa on December 15^th. The evening provides guests with a 5-course meal, gifts for all of the families and children in attendance and lots of prizes in between. “The importance of holding the dinner each year is “to help a lot of the low-income families within the community… from Mississauga to Scarborough,” said founder Angela Swain-Thorpe.

An event that many families across the GTA look forward to every year, the dinner is an opportunity for some families, who otherwise may not have the means, to enjoy a night of holiday food and fun, Santa and Christmas tree included. “We’ve gotten better over the years, we’ve given out more gifts for the kids and the parents…it’s a family event so you try to cater to everybody,” Angela said.

However, Angela said they always have a full reception at the Christmas dinner because of how large their supportive community has become throughout the years. “We are always full to capacity each year, to the families that we can’t accommodate we still provide the children with gifts and food hamper. All proceeds we raise goes towards the programs that we do at Reachout.”

Reachout organizes and supports events all throughout the year including their Annual Walk for Peace which is held in the spring, intended to bring communities affected by violence together while remembering those lost. The yearly gathering is entering its 14^th year of promoting peace and will include food, drinks, games, and giveaways for families to enjoy.

On November 25^th the organization was involved in the facilitation of a free haircut day at I BARBIERI, who provides the free service once during the holidays.

In addition to a basketball tournament, a back to school BBQ, garage sale, and youth cultural festival Reachout feeds the homeless, donates food and even delivers food to elderly members of the community.

The non-profit was founded in 2001 with the intent of serving youth in low-income homes as well as disadvantaged adults in the community. Their primary focus is youth between the ages of 5 and 30 years old, including adults who are in the judicial system. “Very nice people, very helpful and I completed my community hours and got off on all my charges thanks for the opportunity,” said past client Michael Hartley.

”Their services range from development workshops for youth to sexual assault awareness initiatives. They are estimated to have served more than 500 people each year, dedicated to eliminating youth violence by facilitating the empowerment of youth through their workshops.

Though Angela is proud of the progress they make each year and their growing list of supporters, she has created a GoFundMe page with a goal of $5,000 to be raised for the upcoming dinner and other future workshops and events. The funds contribute to the year-round services Reachout provides, including youth programs, counseling, and they, “have a Walk For Peace that we do every year. Next year will be our 14^th year,” Swain-Thorpe said.