Christmas presents
How You Can Help

YWCA Presents of Peace

Help make the holidays brighter for families, youth and elders with YWCA Presents of Peace.

Registration for the 2024 Presents of Peace will open in mid-October. If you would like to be notified, please email pop@ywcavan.org

How to Sponsor a Family this holiday season

1) Create your online profile here

2) Choose your family size*: 

  • Your budget to purchase gifts and a grocery gift card for your family 
  • The size and number of families you would like to sponsor 
  • Preferred YWCA program and city of residence of your sponsorship family 

* All efforts are made to accommodate your requests. However, depending on the greatest need we may offer you an alternative family. We will always stay within your maximum budget.  

 

Budget based on family size Grocery Gift Card

Gifts OR Gift Card

if unable to shop

Total
Family of 2: Single mother and one child  $150 $200 $350
Family of 3: Single mother and two children $200 $300 $500
Family of 4: Single mother and three children  $250 $400 $650
Family of 5: Single mother and four children  $300 $500 $800
Each additional child +$50 +$100 +$150
Strive Youth* $100 $100 $200
Crabtree Corner Knowledge Keeper* $100 $100 $200

* YWCA Strive is a program that supports youth who are transitioning out of care (government care, foster or group home, youth agreement)

* Crabtree Corner Knowledge Keepers are senior women who live in the Downtown Eastside and participate in YWCA Crabtree Corner's programs. 

3) You will receive a confirmation email within two business days once you have registered. 

4) Families and sponsors will be matched beginning November 10th. We will send you an email as soon as you have been matched. Please keep an eye on your junk/spam inbox for an email from pop@ywcavan.org. You can then log in to your account to find your family’s wish list and contact information. 

5) We encourage you to contact your families early and arrange delivery by December 5th. We will share our updated safety protocols for safe delivery in your confirmation email. Please deliver your hamper to the family’s requested location no later than December 15th. 

YOUR SPONSORSHIP INCLUDES
Spoon, fork and plate

An essential part of Presents of Peace that helps alleviate some of the pressure that families experience over the holiday season. The grocery gift card will go toward food and provisions that will enrich a family’s holiday experience. You will provide a minimum $100 grocery gift card for the first person with an additional $50 for each child in the family.

Wrapped present

Becoming a Presents of Peace sponsor is an opportunity to provide a family with the gifts of their choice. We encourage each family member, including moms, to ask for something they truly want and that will bring them joy. We ask that sponsors approach the gift lists in the spirit of generosity and without judgment, knowing that you will be making a family’s holiday season special and memorable. Please refer to your family’s wish list or contact them directly if you have questions.

INTERACTING WITH YWCA FAMILIES 

Some families may be comfortable inviting you into their home and others may not, please be sensitive to the family’s requests.

Please do not take photos of families without their consent. 

Please keep these YWCA principles in mind when interacting with our program participants: 

  • We create a safe space for program participants, staff and external stakeholders: as an organization, we are committed to creating an environment that supports, respects and is safe and inclusive for all. We ask that sponsors and donors who participate in our programs demonstrate these same principles and values.  
  • We are sensitive to power imbalances: be mindful of privilege and how this may show up in your interactions with families to avoid perpetuating further harm.
  • We respect program participants’ right to access our services on their own terms: we strive to centre the voices and experiences of our program participants and be respectful of their self-identified needs and wishes.  
  • We do not reinforce harmful stereotypes: be conscious of over-generalizing any preconceived ideas you may have about families and program participants as these are often rooted in misconceptions and negative stereotypes.
  • We practice mindfulness and self-reflection: We all have implicit bias; however we have the ability to work on ourselves and keep these personal biases in check. When interacting with families and program participants, treat them with the openness and lack of judgment they deserve. 
BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING 

Important Notes: 

  • Gifts should always be new 
  • Please provide gift receipts so families can exchange items like clothing and shoes if they are not the right size. Please keep the sales receipt for your records as they will be required for a tax receipt request. See full tax receipt requirements below.
  • If you have gently used items that you wish to donate (used clothing, computers, etc.) please make sure to contact the family directly before adding these items to their hamper. 
  • Gifts should be wrapped whenever possible or you may provide wrapping paper and/or gift bags so that the parent can wrap the children’s gifts 
  • YWCA Metro Vancouver is committed to the advancement of women, girls and children. A key advocacy priority is raising awareness of the inappropriate sexualization of young girls or hyper-masculinity of boys which is prevalent in mainstream media, music, games and even toys for young girls. We kindly ask you to consider this when doing your Holiday shopping and ensure the toys you buy are age-appropriate and positively represent women, girls and boys 
  • No alcohol or marijuana products 

Arranging delivery: 

Please follow these guidelines when arranging your delivery to families: 

  • Coordinate a drop-off date/time in advance with your family. The deadline for arranging delivery with your family is December 8, the delivery deadline is December 15. 
  • Please follow any communicable diseases recommendations as outlined by public health authorities at the time of delivery. 
  • Your family may request additional safety measures such as masks or distancing during the delivery. Please be respectful of their individual health needs. 

Sponsor a family 

 


QUESTIONS? 

Contact Presents of Peace at 604 895 5783 | pop@ywcavan.org

"As a single mom, Christmas is not typically a time I look forward to, mostly due to the financial burden it places on me and the fact that I am unable to provide the gifts my children ask for. How do you explain to a five-year-old that Santa can't afford that hot new toy he sees on commercials?" 

- Jen, YWCA Program Participant 

YWCA Metro Vancouver respects the privacy of our customers (including members, clients, guests and parents, donors and volunteers). We also recognize our obligation to protect all personal information. The YWCA's policy is based on the Canadian Standards Association's Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information and complies with the Provincial privacy laws. 

We do not disclose our client's and donors' personal information to any third-party organization without prior approval. The information we collect is to ensure that donors and clients receive the information they need for a happy and healthy holiday season. Out of respect for the difficult circumstances so many families face, we ask that you please keep their names, addresses, and telephone numbers confidential. For more information, please visit our policy webpage

We can issue tax receipts, with a minimum donation of $10 to each person for all new gift items and gift cards.

Guidelines:

  • Original sales receipts must be dated on or before, December 31st, 2024 and clearly describe each item purchased. Debit/credit card slips without an original, itemized sales receipt attached cannot be accepted, as per CRA guidelines. 
  • Photocopies or scans of sales receipts can be accepted. Any original sales receipts cannot be returned. 
  • Sale receipts should consist of gift hamper purchases only. 
  • You will be provided with a tax receipt request form upon being matched with a family.
  • Please exclude the taxes from the requested tax receipt amount. As per CRA guidelines, we cannot provide tax receipts for the sales tax portion. 
  • You can either submit your Tax Receipt spreadsheet and scans of your sales receipts electronically to pop@ywcavan.org or submit your Tax receipt spreadsheet and original sales receipt to this address:  

YWCA Metro Vancouver 
4th Floor Reception, 535 Hornby Street 
Vancouver, BC V6C 2E8 
Attention: Florence Liu 

YWCA Metro Vancouver is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment by maintaining a safe environment for all employees, volunteers and program participants. Your health & safety is our priority. Please follow all current COVID-19 safety precautions for your local Health Authority when arranging the Presents of Peace drop-offs with your sponsored families.

PROTECTING YOURSELF AND OTHERS

Safety protocols:

The best thing you can do to prevent the spreading of Communicable Diseases and COVID-19 is to stay at home and away from others if you are ill. 

You should also:

  • Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. If none is available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Maintain a 2-metre physical distance from others
  • Wear a non-medical mask, particularly if you cannot maintain a 2-metre physical distance from others