By Maisha Hasan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The demand for support continues to rise across Halton and Hamilton as families face high living costs, food insecurity, and growing pressure on social services. These stresses can feel especially acute at this time of year, which is why programs like United Way Halton and Hamilton’s (UWHH) Holiday Helping Hand play a critical role in ensuring households don’t slip further behind during the most financially stressful season.

Holiday Helping Hand is UWHH’s annual opportunity to give back during the coming holiday season. The program devises different ways to help, from “adopting” a family to joining a gift drive, building themed kits, and other volunteering opportunities. 

These programs focus on fundraising and supporting families and children in need, geared toward individual needs and wants, drawing on community participation to make the most of the generosity of the holiday season.

Below, Kristen Jacob, United Way Halton and Hamilton’s vice president of marketing and communications, shares insights regarding the project.

What role does the Holiday Helping Hand program play in United Way’s larger plan to address community needs and poverty in Halton and Hamilton?
Holiday Helping Hand is an extension of United Way’s year-round work to help people move from poverty to possibility. The holidays can be especially difficult for families who are already struggling to afford basic needs, and this program provides meaningful, practical relief during a time when the pressure is highest.

The way the program is designed, through family sponsorships, gift cards, child wish lists, essential-needs kits, and volunteer support, reflects United Way’s broader approach. Meeting people where they are, restoring dignity, and strengthening our network of support across Halton and Hamilton.

Every gift card, every kit, every sponsored family connects back to our larger strategy of stabilizing households, supporting mental health, addressing food insecurity, and making sure families don’t fall further behind.

How many families or individuals were reached through the 2024 Helping Hands program, and what outcomes did you see?
Last year’s Holiday Helping Hand program made a tremendous difference. Together with donors, volunteers, businesses, and schools, we provided approximately $150,000 in direct relief to 2,425 people across 24 partner agencies. That includes:

  • 224 families adopted, representing 644 people. Every family that needed support received it!
  • 411 essential-needs kits, helping approximately 411 individuals
  • $30,000 in donated toys, brightening the holidays for about 1,200 children and youth
  • Over $8,000 in gift cards, supporting roughly 170 people
  • 250+ volunteers who helped sort, assemble, and distribute items

The greatest outcome we saw was relief. Parents who could finally give their children a holiday morning filled with joy, seniors who felt remembered, and families who experienced dignity and kindness at a time they needed it most.

Through this program, how do local companies, educational institutions, and community organizations work with United Way?
This program works because our whole community comes together.

Businesses often sponsor families, purchase grocery gift cards, host toy or gift card drives, run internal “build-a-kit” days, or send teams of volunteers to help sort donations. Schools get involved through classroom drives and student-led service projects, which is a powerful way to build empathy and leadership among young people.

There are dozens of ways to participate, and the program is flexible so groups can contribute in the way that fits them best.

Are there new partnerships or community relationships you’re excited about this year?
Absolutely. Each year, more workplaces, schools, and community groups reach out, wanting to get involved. This year, we’re seeing growing interest in group kit-building events, where teams come together to assemble baby kits, senior kits, and teen stocking stuffers.

We’re also welcoming new businesses into our gift card drive, which is one of the most impactful ways to help, since gift cards give families the dignity of choosing what they need most.

And across the region, we’re seeing more youth groups and school clubs step up to help assemble kits or run classroom drives. It’s inspiring to see the next generation so engaged in supporting their community.

How do you ensure families and individuals are matched with appropriate support that respects dignity and confidentiality?
Dignity and confidentiality are central to Holiday Helping Hand. We work directly with partner agencies, which identify families and individuals with confirmed financial need. These agencies know their clients well, which means support is matched appropriately, respectfully, and without requiring people to retell difficult stories.

When someone adopts a family, they receive an instruction kit with only the details needed, like family size, preferred grocery store, and wish lists for children under 18. No names, personal information, or identifying details are shared. 

Parents receive unwrapped gifts so they can experience the joy of wrapping their children’s presents themselves. It’s a small but meaningful choice that preserves dignity.

We also remind donors that if they want to give beyond the suggested amounts, the best way to do that is to adopt an additional family, ensuring no one is left behind.

For people who feel they don’t have a lot of money or time, how can they still help?
There is a place for everyone in Holiday Helping Hand.

If sponsoring a family isn’t possible, there are many other meaningful ways to make a difference:

  • Donate a gift card. Even a small amount can help a family with groceries or essentials
  • Build a kit — teen stockings, hygiene kits, household kits, seniors’ kits, Period Promise kits, or baby kits
  • Join a gift drive, or contribute just one or two items
  • Volunteer your time to help assemble, sort, or distribute donations
  • Team up with co-workers or friends to sponsor a family together

And of course, spreading the word about the program. Helping support by sharing posts and encouraging others to get involved also makes a big impact.

Every contribution matters. When hundreds of small acts of kindness come together, the impact is extraordinary.

Registration for this year’s Holiday Helping Hand program closes Friday, December 5, 2025, with family sponsorships, kit-building events, and gift drives still in need of support. United Way Halton and Hamilton is encouraging residents, workplaces, and school groups to sign up soon so every remaining slot can be filled before distribution begins later in the month.