in our community: 2021 giving recap

As the year draws to a close, we can’t help but to reflect on some of the incredible initiatives, programs, and partnerships that we were grateful to lead or be a part of in 2021. Please join us as we take this opportunity to look back at some of the ways we worked together to make life better for those in our community.

Health Sciences Centre Urologic Centre

This fall, the Dufresne family proudly announced a $1-million donation to the proposed Manitoba Urologic Centre at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre (HSC) through the Dufresne Foundation. The gift brings the appeal one step closer to its $8.2-million goal and will help HSC make life better for Manitoba patients and their families.

The centre will provide world-class urologic care to up to 10,000 patients a year, free up conventional operating rooms at HSC, and dramatically reduce wait times for urologic patients—from up to one year to just weeks, if not days.

How you can help: You can make a difference by donating to the HSC Foundation’s Manitoba Urologic Centre Fund, either as a one-time or monthly reoccurring gift.

For more information and to donate: Health Scences Foundation

HSC PsycHealth Movement for Mental Health

In addition to supporting the new Urologic Centre at HSC, the Dufresne Foundation made a $100,000 gift to the PsycHealth Department’s Movement for Mental Health. The project focuses on providing equipment, Peloton bikes, and treadmills for inpatient psych patients. When covid allows, the program will be expanded to outpatients, as well.

How you can help: Support this or other community mental health initiatives by making a donation to the HSC Foundation through the link above, or give to your local mental health organization or hospital.

For more information and to donate: Canadian Mental Health Charities

Dream Big

We believe everyone deserves a good night's sleep. That's why, over the last decade, we have partnered with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Main Street Project, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace to provide new mattresses to community members in need.

To date, 600 mattresses have been donated to help kids and adults in the communities we serve, representing a retail value of $216,000. This year alone, 140 mattresses were donated to The Winnipeg chapter of Sleep In Heavenly Peace—keep reading to see that gift in action!

How you can help: You can help give the gift of sleep, simply by buying your next mattress at Dufresne. A portion of every mattress or mattress set purchased in one of our stores or at dufresne.ca goes directly to the Dream Big program to buy a mattress for an adult or child in need in your community.

For more information: Dream Big 

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Across North America, local chapters of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) are working hard to solve the problem of child bedlessness by providing a handmade bed, new mattress, pillow, and warm bedding to kids who are sleeping on the floor. In 2021, we were proud to partner with the Winnipeg chapter as its primary mattress sponsor.

In addition to donating 140 new mattresses to the Winnipeg chapter, several of our team members had the opportunity to participate in a bed building event, hosted in the parking lot of our Ellice Avenue store. As well, we had the unique opportunity to assist SHP Winnipeg volunteers with their largest bed delivery to date, helping to deliver and install 32 beds in just one afternoon.

Watch the video from that incredible day:

How you can help: SHP Winnipeg is always accepting donations of new pillows and sheets, new or handmade quilts and blankets, and, of course, monetary donations. Please visit the chapter’s Facebook page for information on how to donate, or request a bed for a child in need.

For more information and to donate: Sleep in Heavenly Peace Winnipeg 

United Way Workplace Campaign

Every year, our United Way committee puts together a full week of activities that are guaranteed to put the FUN into fundraising. Throughout the week, team members at our Winnipeg head office are encouraged to take part in a range of activities, including daily themed lunches, Bingo, wine survivor, paint night, a parking spot raffle, and more.

This year, our team came together and raised $50,501.88 during the campaign, exceeding our goal by over $500. Not only was it a great opportunity to support a worthy cause, but we also had a blast doing it!

How you can help: Organize a campaign in your workplace or give to your local United Way chapter to help keep your community strong. 100% of your donation goes to agencies and programs that help kids be all they can be, move families out of poverty, and build healthier communities.

For more information and to donate: The United Way of Winnipeg or find your local chapter here.

Be a Santa to a Senior

In early December, TDG team members chose, wrapped, and delivered 140 gifts for seniors in our community through the Be a Santa to a Senior program. Now in its tenth year in Winnipeg, the program brightens the holidays for socially isolated or in-need older adults who might not otherwise receive a gift during the holiday season.

Seniors who participate in the program are given the chance to make a wish for their gift, and it’s always so touching to see what they've requested—everything from warm winter gloves to stationery sets to cozy flannel bedsheets.

Here’s a little peek at our little “Santa’s Workshop” and some of the team members who pitched in to help make a few of those wishes come true:

How you can help: Be a Santa to a Senior in 2022! Tags containing the gift wish (maximum $25) of an older adult living in Winnipeg are available through A & O: Support Services for Older Adults central office at 200-280 Smith Street. Purchase, wrap and return the gift by the deadline, and it will be delivered to the recipient by A & O staff and volunteers.

For more information: please contact santa@aosupportservices.ca

Santa Anonymous

Also in December, we partnered with the Prince Albert Raiders WHL hockey team at one of their home games to help support the local Santa Anonymous program.

In addition to donating $1500 to the toy drive, plus a door prize for one lucky fan, we sent a team from the Prince Albert store to a Raiders game to help with the toy collection. As you can see from the photos, Raiders fans turned up and filled several Santa sacks with new unwrapped toys for local kids to open on Christmas morning.

How you can help: Give to the United Way to help keep our community strong. 100% of your donation goes to agencies and programs that help kids be all they can be, move families out of poverty, and build healthier communities.

How you can help: Subscribe to our emails to stay up-to-date on our events and initiatives in your community. We’ll also let you know about new product launches, sales, and contests. In fact, you can win a shopping spree, just for signing up!

With the help and generosity of our team, or community partners, and you, our guests, we are ending the year with a wonderful mix of pride and gratitude. We encourage you to visit the links above to learn more about the organizations we partnered with in 2021 and contribute in any way you can.

Thank you!