December 2025 - Nuggets - Caring and Sharing At Christmas

In some ways, Christmas can be bittersweet. Sweet because it is an enchanting time. For so many little ones it’s a time where memories are forged that will last a lifetime. Think back over your life. Review some of your most cherished memories and I’ll bet Christmas factors in there somewhere. Going with Mom and Dad to pick out a Christmas tree. On a corner lot or out at a farm. The forest smell as it climatizes to the indoors. Decorating the house inside and out. And the food. Golden turkey with all the trimmings. Apple or even mincemeat pie. Eggnog. Plum pudding with warm caramel sauce. On and on it goes. And Christmas Eve. All the gifts under the tree. What an assortment of shapes and sizes. And the stockings. Hung up on the chimney or laid across the back of the sofa. Flat and lifeless, but early tomorrow morning, it’ll be bulging with an amazing array of hidden treasures. No wonder the little ones are so excited they can’t sleep, and are up while it’s still dark outside. But that’s not the memories Christmas holds for a lot of people – unfortunately. For a significant number of people in our community, Christmas is a time they dread. Why? Because for them and their families, Christmas holds no promise of events that so many hold dear. There will be no tree, no decorations, no gifts for the children and no Christmas feast to enjoy with family and friends. I’m talking about the growing number who subsist well below the poverty line. And it’s easy for those who are well off to think ‘if they’d just go out and get a job’. But for many, it just isn’t that simple. Some do have jobs, but as unskilled, earning minimum wage or below, there just isn’t anything left after rent and life essentials are paid. And others are trapped in a cycle of poverty in one-parent households just trying to stay afloat. But regardless of the circumstances that keep the household in poverty, it certainly isn’t the fault of the children. And they are the ones impacted the most. At school, they hear the stories of Christmas festivities and plans that their friends share with them. And when school reconvenes, they will hear of gifts received and stockings opened. And they will wonder why for them; there were no gifts and no stockings. I’m sure it’s equally difficult for the struggling parents. They love their family. It must break their hearts to see the kids doing without and try to explain to them, “Yes, Santa loves them too, it’s just that…” Here at RE/MAX Garden City Realty Inc., we are well aware of the situation that so many distressed families face. And while we can’t solve all the problems that surround us, we can make a bit of a difference. For many years now, we have undertaken a project we call ‘Caring and Sharing at Christmas’. It’s undergone a number of changes over the years, but the goal has always been the same. To dig in, contribute and help as many families as we can with food, life necessities and gifts for Christmas morning. This year, the men and women of RE/MAX Garden City Realty gave in excess of Nine Thousand dollars to help those struggling to make ends meet. Agents from all our offices, as well as support staff, gave generously. And once the money was collected, the ‘hands-on’ portion of the program took shape. In St. Catharines, converting cash into goods was headed up by Phyllis Gleeson and Maureen McIvor, while at our Grimsby office, the bulk of the shopping was handled by Jillian Geddes. In the early days, we were assigned specific families and given a breakdown of family composition and accompanying wish lists. More recently, we were asked to provide certain items, and often vouchers or gift cards, but no families were attached. Things went into a general warehouse, and families were invited to come in and ‘shop’. The idea was that the money went further that way, but to us it seemed somewhat impersonal. I’m delighted that this year it’s reverted back to a more personal approach. Families still maintain their anonymity, so dignity can be preserved, but from our end, we shop for specific family compositions and fill their modest wish lists. In spite of the fact that the real estate market has been difficult for the past couple of years, we realize that compared to many, we are blessed. And we are fortunate enough to be able in this small way to be a blessing in return. Our wish is that, at least for some, Caring and Sharing at Christmas can help create some warm and wonderful memories for families that otherwise would have no Christmas at all.