By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The holiday season is a time for unity and generosity, and this was fully embodied at The Gift of Giving Back’s recent Oakville event, which follows off the back of the Burlington iteration late last month. Gift of Giving Back (GOGB) has the distinction of being one of Canada’s largest youth-led food drives. This extraordinary initiative supports food banks across Halton, including Kerr Street Mission, Halton Learning Foundation, Halton Catholic Children’s Foundation, Halton Women’s Place, ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids), Food For Life, Compassion Society, and Feed Halton.
Hosted at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Oakville, the event demonstrated the immense power of collaboration and community spirit. John Verdon, president of the Oakville Rangers hockey club, encapsulated the mission perfectly: “We are not in the hockey business — we are in the business of helping to shape well-rounded young people.”
With over 20% of Oakville residents living below the poverty line, initiatives like The Gift of Giving Back make a tangible difference. Melissa Bain of Food for Life noted that the organization delivers food to more than 1,000 families across Halton, underscoring the critical role of this campaign.
Jean Longfield, founder and chair of The Gift of Giving Back, highlighted the campaign’s youth-driven approach: “Every pound of food in this gym is important. Every item collected here was by a student.” This ethos not only addresses immediate needs but also instills a sense of responsibility and empathy among young participants.
At Kerr Street Mission, the First Street Market serves over 1,000 people each week with a dignified and inclusive model. Expanding its reach, the market plans to launch an online ordering system in January, allowing clients to select convenient pickup times. “Anyone can walk through our doors and access support,” said Tony O’Dell, director of communications and fundraising at Kerr Street Mission, emphasizing accessibility and respect for all.
Now in its 19th year, the Gift of Giving Back partners with organizations like Feed Halton to ensure donations are collected, sorted, and distributed efficiently. While the campaign historically focused on non-perishable goods, there’s now an emphasis on fresh, nutritional food, which makes up approximately 75% of Kerr Street Mission’s distributions. This shift reflects a dual commitment to meeting immediate needs and fostering long-term health.
The campaign thrives on the involvement of youth sports teams like the Oakville Rangers and Oakville Hornets, whose friendly competition to collect donations has become a cornerstone of the initiative. This year, the Rangers achieved a record-breaking contribution of 92,758 pounds of food, $20,624.71 in monetary donations, and $10,385 via Tip Tap. The Hornets added 19,613.70 pounds of food, $9,132.44 in donations, and $3,505 via Tip Tap. At the time of publication, after the weight of food donations was converted to dollars and added to the monetary donations, Oakville’s Gift of Giving Back campaign had reached over $452,000.
Reflecting on the campaign’s humble beginnings, a representative from MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos’ office shared its origin story: starting with just one red wagon, The Gift of Giving Back has since collected over five million pounds of food and raised more than $14 million for Halton charities.
Although Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was unable to attend, MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos’ office presented a commemorative scroll to Jean Longfield and the youth teams. Robin Bailey, executive director of Feed Halton, celebrated the campaign’s success: “You beat yourselves — this is by far the most food Oakville has brought in. An incredible job!” Bailey also invited the teams to help sort donations, deepening their engagement with the cause.
As the campaign approaches its 20th year, its legacy continues to grow. Verdon recalled the heartfelt words of a grade 9 student: “We’re going to feed a lot of people with this food.” This simple statement captures the essence of The Gift of Giving Back — empowering communities, nourishing neighbours, and inspiring a new generation of compassionate leaders.
Whether through large-scale food drives or small individual contributions, every act of kindness strengthens the fabric of our community. The Gift of Giving Back is a testament to what can be accomplished when people unite with a shared purpose.
