Dear Parents and Guardians,
As the holidays approach, we know this time of year can bring both joy and added pressure. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Moncton, in partnership with A-Tech Roofing Ltd., is once again offering the Holiday Heroes Program to bring a little comfort and care to families in our mentoring programs.
Each year, many parents share that the holiday season can be a difficult time to manage. When schools close for two weeks, children lose access to daily food supports, and the cost of meals, snacks, and seasonal activities can quickly add up. We understand how stressful that can feel.
The Holiday Heroes Program is intended to support families who are experiencing hardship this holiday season. Through modest gift cards for groceries and gifts, our hope is to provide a small measure of relief during a time that can be especially heavy.
Application Details
- Families can register from November 3rd until midnight on November 14th.
- This short application window allows our team to confirm our fundraising goal and prepare gift cards in time for distribution before the school holiday break.
- Our goal is to meet every request we receive. However, support is limited by available donations, so not all applications can be approved.
- Gift cards will be distributed no later than December 12th, ensuring families receive them before the holidays.
How decisions are made
Because we work closely with every family in our programs, our staff are often able to recognize where a little extra support will make the greatest difference. Each request is reviewed with care and with respect for dignity and privacy.
Priority is given to:
- Families experiencing significant financial hardship
- Families facing new or exceptional challenges this season
- Families who have not received Holiday Heroes support in recent years
- Families who are not already receiving holiday assistance from another community organization
Important note about other support
To use donated funds responsibly and avoid duplicating services, families who are already receiving holiday assistance through another program or organization will not be eligible for Holiday Heroes. The only exceptions are Toyland (Headstart) and a food box from Food Depot Alimentaire.
If you submit an application and later learn that your family will be receiving support from another organization, please let us know right away so we can update your application status. This helps ensure fairness and allows us to reach others who may be waiting for assistance.
Failure to update your status may affect eligibility for future participation in the program.
Support details
Our goal is to provide families who are approved with a $150 Walmart gift card and a $100 Sobeys gift card to help with groceries and gifts.
If the demand for support is very high, we reserve the right to move to a tiered model. This helps ensure that as many families as possible receive some level of assistance.
Under this approach:
- Families who are new to the program, who are facing significant hardship, and who are not receiving other community assistance (other than Toyland or a food box) may receive a $250 gift package as described above.
- Families who have received Holiday Heroes support in the past may receive a smaller gift package, allowing us to extend care to as many families as possible while staying within our resources.
Confidentiality
All information you share will remain confidential and will only be used to help determine eligibility. Families selected for support will be contacted directly by their Mentoring Coordinator with pickup or delivery details.
If you have questions or would like to talk privately about your situation before applying, please reach out to your BBBS staff member or call our office at 506-857-3047.
We know the holidays can be both joyful and challenging, and we hope this program offers comfort and care where it’s needed most.