The Staples Canada Give a Toonie. Share a Dream. campaign for Special Olympics delivered successful fundraising and inspiring stories in 2015, as B.C. stores found great community support and athletes made a big impression with staff members and customers alike.
Now in its 15th year, the Staples campaign raises vital awareness and funds for Special Olympics, helping make dreams happen for athletes across the country. During this year's campaign, which ran from May 2 to 24, Staples staff across Canada invited customers to donate to Special Olympics at the till. Special Olympics athletes and volunteers gave their time in stores, where they greeted customers, assisted staff, and supported fundraising events, helping the campaign raise an amazing total of $630,000 across Canada.
Congratulations to Staples Langley for raising the highest amount in B.C. at $7,621, Staples Campbell River the second highest with $7,322, and Staples Kelowna third with $6,960. The Staples Seymour store in Vancouver made an impressive 250 per cent increase this year in the amount they raised, wrapping up the campaign at $3,185.
Staples staff members across the province found inspiration in Special Olympics athletes; Patty Holland, a Cranbrook Staples Services Manager, said she looked forward to having athletes in the store every day.
“It was the best part of the day for me,” Holland said. “The athletes’ interaction with customers made the biggest difference to donations. It's a pleasure to have them.”
Special Olympics BC – Kimberley/Cranbrook athlete Erin Thom has volunteered with the Give a Toonie. Share a Dream. campaign for the past 10 years and has been a Staples employee for seven years, assembling chairs and cleaning around the store.
Thom, a veteran athlete who has competed in four World Games and will compete in alpine skiing at the 2016 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Newfoundland and Labrador, says she likes to help raise money for Special Olympics through the Staples campaign.
Thom’s mom Joanne, the SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook Local Coordinator, has also played a big role in the Staples campaign over the years, organizing athlete visits to the store.
Cranbrook Staples employee Janice Weibe said that customers enjoyed seeing the Special Olympics athletes in the store, and she wanted to thank all the customers across Canada who supported the campaign.
“A lot of customers were asking them questions about what sports they played. All the athletes wore their medals and matching track suits,” Weibe said. “All the staff enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun.”
She described Erin Thom as a great asset in the store, saying Thom is always one to greet a customer and help them find what they’re looking for, and never leave a customer standing.
Staples Abbotsford staff member Jessica St. Jean said this year’s campaign was one of the best that store has ever had, coming 10th in Canada for funds raised.
SOBC – Abbotsford coach Ed Santema gave a special thank you to all the staff at Staples Abbotsford, saying “they worked so well alongside the athletes as the athletes bagged merchandise for the customers. The staff always showed encouragement towards the athletes, which sparked great interest from them.”
Santema also recognized the volunteers and all the athletes who worked numerous shifts in order to have a presence for SOBC – Abbotsford.
“The athletes were always enthusiastic and enjoyed working at Staples,” Santema said. He believed they would all be looking forward to the campaign next year.
At the Fort St. John Staples, one staff member said the campaign was better than ever this year, with the community getting behind fundraising and the staff looking forward to each event. The store held four barbecues, which local grocery stores donated burgers to.
The Kelowna Staples had athletes in almost every day, with lots of friendly competition and high-fives as the staff and athletes vied to see who could raise the most donations. “It created a really good energy for customers,” a Staples staff member said.
“Staples has great personnel,” said Diane Soroskie who volunteered at the Kelowna Staples with her grandson, an SOBC athlete. “They were very helpful and encouraging to my grandson. Bobby was allowed to bag merchandise and was thrilled to work. Oh, my gosh, it made his day!”
A Courtenay Staples employee said the staff have developed a great rapport with some of the returning athletes who volunteer for the campaign. This year, the athletes got more involved by bagging purchases and re-shelving items, which helped them interact with customers. The staff split into two teams for a friendly competition to raise funds.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Staples Canada staff and customers, and to all the athletes and volunteers across the province who gave their time and energy to this significant campaign.
Watch this powerful video about Special Olympics Ontario Active Start athlete Levi and his family, who starred in the posters for the 2015 Give a Toonie. Share a Dream. campaign: