Each year, the Newmarket Allstate Agency gets into the giving spirit of the holidays to support the Shoebox Project.
Founded in Toronto in 2011, the Shoebox Project was started by four sisters-in-law when the family noticed there were many opportunities to provide gifts to children experiencing homelessness during the holiday season, but less initiatives for their mothers.
Hoping to make the holiday season brighter for women in their community, they decided to ask friends and acquaintances to fill a shoebox with thoughtful and essential gifts.
Antonietta Zambri, Allstate Newmarket Agency manager, says supporting the initiative has been something they’ve really embraced because it brings the team together to work toward the common goal of supporting women impacted by homelessness.
Last year, the agency even held a “shoebox stuffing party” to drum up more support from its staff and plan to again this year.
Newmarket Allstate takes the support a step further by using personal relationships to encourage community participation and donations toward this great cause, Zambri said.
“We believe it’s not just gifts we are collecting for women facing challenges and obstacles, these are reminders that they matter,” she said.
As the cost of living continues to go up, supporting programs like this has become increasingly important, Zambri said. She noted that many women — especially women of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women living with a disability – are disproportionately affected by homelessness.
“That’s why our agency recognizes the importance of being able to support programs like this,” she said. “It can sometimes take a small gesture – like a gift-filled shoebox – to be able to make a profound impact for those who may not have much. To some it may be the only gift they receive.”
Zambri said the agency feels it has a responsibility to use its platform and resources to help advocate for those unable to advocate for themselves and support community initiatives while bringing awareness to important issues.
“Whether it is through donating items or spreading the Shoebox Project’s message by word of mouth or online, if each one of us connected with our own friends and family and come together to support this initiative, there’s no telling what our impact will be,” she said.
Those who wish to participate can by providing a shoebox filled with $50 worth of high-quality, essential, everyday items and small luxuries that any woman would love. The shoeboxes can be dropped off until Dec. 15 at the Newmarket Allstate Agency, 17725 Yonge St., unit 9.
Items can include things like shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste, body wash, deodorant, socks and gift cards. And recommended luxury items like cosmetics, skin and self-care products, or nut-free chocolates and candies.
Allstate and the Allstate Foundation have been supporting the program since 2015 and have collected over 9,000 gift-filled shoeboxes and donated over $175,000 in support of the organization.
