Tag: community support

The holiday season is always a special time at GEF, thanks to the incredible support of our community partners who help make it meaningful. For the third year in a row, we were fortunate to receive a heartwarming donation from Old Navy. Their continued generosity brought warmth and holiday cheer to GEF seniors and housing applicants this festive season.

Throughout November, staff from Old Navy stores across Edmonton assembled over 330 holiday gift bags for GEF. Each bag included cozy socks from Old Navy, along with something warm, something fun, something tasty, and something practical. These sweet and caring gifts brought real comfort during a busy and often stressful time of year.

A Special Surprise for Housing Applicants

Our Housing Placement Coordinators were excited to step into the role of Santa’s helpers once again, handing out holiday bags. During housing interviews in December and early January, housing applicants were surprised with one of these gifts.

“One applicant was delighted by the kind gesture and said, ‘I don’t celebrate the holidays, but I really appreciate this! This is my first time receiving a gift!'”

Shelley Anna Adia, GEF Housing Placement Coordinator

With more than 1,300 people currently on our housing waitlist, these gifts offered encouragement and a reminder of hopeful things to come amidst the stress of the holidays and housing challenges.

Spreading Smiles in Our Communities

The remainder of the gift bags were delivered by Old Navy staff to seniors at GEF Sakaw Terrace in December. The happy delivery day brought plenty of smiles, and residents were deeply touched by the lovely visit and holiday gifts.

Thank You, Old Navy!

We’re incredibly grateful to Old Navy and our dedicated GEF staff for helping make this season brighter for our community. Through their generous donations and volunteer efforts throughout the year, Old Navy and their Edmonton-area team have gone above and beyond. Their partnership has made a meaningful difference in the lives of GEF seniors and brought warmth to housing applicants waiting for a place to call home.

Join Us in Brightening the Lives of Seniors

Let’s make this new year shine even brighter for the nearly 4,000 seniors who live with us. Our Brighten the Lives of Seniors campaign runs until February 28, and we’d love for you to be part of it! Donations to our Quality of Life Fund bring joy, connection, and comfort to our communities. Your generosity lasts well beyond the holiday season, bringing happiness to residents and tenants all year long.

Donate today and help enrich the lives of seniors!

November is Edmonton Housing Month – an annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of safe, quality housing in the Capital Region and a time to reflect on what “home” truly means. Throughout the month, Homeward Trust Edmonton, in partnership with local organizations, will host a series of webinars featuring housing solutions and supportive programs across the city.

With a 90% client satisfaction rate, GEF is proud to contribute to these efforts by helping seniors find that sense of home through affordable housing and support that enables them to live with dignity and thrive in their communities.

For 66-year-old Ted W., moving into GEF Strathcona Place earlier this year finally gave him the security and comfort he’d been searching for.

A Fresh Start

Ted had lived in many places over the years, but none ever felt like home. Shared accommodations were inconvenient and uncomfortable, and a short-lived apartment in St. Paul turned out to be unsafe and expensive.

“A friend had told me to look into affordable housing options for seniors, but there was a stigma for me. I hated to admit that I needed help, but I realized that living the way I was wasn’t working anymore. It was very difficult.”

~ Ted W., Strathcona Place

After years of unstable housing, Ted finally has a place where he feels safe, settled, and connected.

Supporting Seniors

Nicole Davis, Ted’s GEF Housing Placement Coordinator, sees firsthand the growing demand for more affordable housing options for older adults. With over 1,300 seniors currently on GEF’s waitlist, the housing application system prioritizes need.

This year, GEF expanded its Housing and Outreach teams to better support seniors – from applying for housing, to the move-in transition, and connecting them with the resources they need to thrive.

With that support, Ted has settled in and now enjoys the simple pleasures of cooking, meeting neighbours, and decorating his space one piece at a time.

Recently, Ted sent a heartfelt note to Nicole to share just how much this move has meant to him:

Home and Community

This Housing Month, we’re highlighting Ted’s story – a reminder of why home, stability, and community matter. We’re grateful for the trust our residents and tenants place in us. Their feedback inspires us to keep listening, learning, and finding new ways to strengthen our communities for the seniors who call GEF home.

Visit gef.org for more information on our housing options and resources to help navigate the application process.

The 2024 holiday season was a beautiful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together. Thanks to the kindness of individuals and businesses, we brought joy to 3,800 seniors across our 41 GEF communities. From festive events to thoughtful gifts, the generosity shown from our donors and volunteers made the holiday season even more special. Scroll through the slideshow of pictures below to look back on some of our favorite moments!

A Record-Breaking Year of Giving

Celebrated on December 3, 2024, this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign was a big success! Together, we raised over $20,000 for our Quality of Life Fund, surpassing last year’s total of $18,000. Every dollar raised helps us enrich the lives of seniors, and we are so grateful to everyone who contributed. Visit our Donor and Volunteer Recognition page to see a list of our supporters.

Making the Holidays Bright

Thanks to our incredible community, we were able to:

• Provide 168 grocery gift cards as well as other gifts to be used as door prizes for seniors at holiday events and upcoming winter festivals across all of our sites.

• Give 285 seniors a magical evening on the Borealis Holiday Lights Tour, completely free of charge.

• Bring vibrant energy to the billiards room at Strathcona Place with a new 32” Smart TV.

• Direct over $2,000 in individual donations to specific GEF communities.

• Contribute $2,500 to the Compassion Fund for those clients most in need.

A Successful Year for Stocking Stuffers for Seniors

The generosity of London Drugs and Albertans made this year’s Stocking Stuffers for Seniors 2024 campaign the biggest one yet! Thanks to their support, a record 1,600 seniors in 20 GEF communities received holiday gifts. Their kindness made the season brighter for so many.

Deck the Halls: Volunteers Made the Season Shine

Nothing says the holidays like twinkling lights and festive decorations! This year, several volunteers gave their time to decorate our communities, adding warmth and cheer to our seniors’ homes.

A special thank you to the Old Navy store team in Edmonton, who not only helped decorate but also donated 310 cozy holiday gift bags for several seniors in our communities — as well as housing applicants waiting for a place to call home.

The Spirit of Giving Continues

The holidays may be over, but the spirit of giving continues all year long. Your support makes all the difference! Donate to our Quality of Life Fund and choose exactly where your gift will go. Together, we can continue to bring joy and connection to the seniors who call GEF their home.

Thanks to all the individuals, businesses, and volunteers for making 2024 so unforgettable. Here’s to another year of compassion, kindness, community, and giving!