Month: September 2021

Ontario Safeway teammates step up to donate more than $16,000 in support of children’s health

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

For Safeway teammates, giving back to the causes close to home has always been second nature. In fact, its been more than a decade that teammates have proudly participated in the Safeway payroll donation program.

A few dollars from each paycheque truly go a long way in supporting the organizations that make a tangible difference in the lives of Ontario families. This is especially true for those who receive care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences.

In 2020, our Ontario teammates donated more than $10,000 to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation through the payroll donation program. Your contribution will be used to create a calming room in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit. This critically important space will project soothing imagery on the walls to help children feel calm when they’re experiencing mental health distress.

Ontario teammates also donated more than $2,700 through the payroll donation program to the Children’s Centre Foundation in support of the Occupational Therapy program at Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. Children dealing with mental health issues will directly benefit from your meaningful contribution as they’ll receive the support needed to live happy and healthy lives. This includes therapy on how to deal with the stresses of school and home life, and the provision of tools and resources to help manage symptoms.

Lastly, but certainly not least, you collectively donated more than $2,700 to the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre Foundation. Through the support of Ontario Teammates, the Feeding and Swallowing Clinic at the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre will be able to hire a much-needed Registered Dietician for seven hours per month. The Registered Dietician will be a welcomed addition to the Clinic’s team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and social workers, who work together to help children with physical development and/or sensory issues eat healthy and safely.

Thank you, Ontario Safeway teammates, for your passion to serve your communities and help those most vulnerable when they need it most. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed! By working together, we can truly make a difference for families across our province.

Manitoba Safeway teammates step up to donate more than $71,000 in support of children’s health

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

For Safeway teammates, giving back to the causes close to home has always been second nature. In fact, its been more than a decade that teammates have proudly participated in the Safeway payroll donation program.

A few dollars from each paycheque truly go a long way in supporting the organizations that make a tangible difference in the lives of Manitoba families. This is especially true for those dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

In 2020, our Manitoba teammates donated more than $27,000 to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. This gift will have a direct impact on their AfterCare Program. For more than a decade, CancerCare Manitoba has provided long-term follow up care for survivors of childhood cancer. The purpose of this program is to educate cancer survivors about their cancer and its treatment and what that means for their health as they reach adolescence and young adulthood. Through your support, CancerCare Manitoba will be able to provide these children with the resources and tools needed to lead happy and healthy lives.

And by joining forces, your donation went even further, supporting both the St. Boniface and Heart and Stroke Foundations.

St. Boniface Foundation

Through our Manitoba teammates’ donation of more than $25,000 through the payroll donation program, St. Boniface Hospital will be able to purchase three Transcutaneous Bilirubin (TcB) monitors, virtually doubling the hospital’s supply of this important piece of equipment. This monitor helps to determine the development of jaundice in the first few hours of a child’s life.

Heart and Stroke Foundation

You also collectively donated more than $19,700 to support a strong future for HeartSmart Kids — a program designed in collaboration with Indigenous communities. HeartSmart Kids is a unique classroom and family resource that takes a wholistic approach to improving health using a comprehensive set of tools, tactics and resources. This no-charge education program is offered to Indigenous children from kindergarten to grade six and includes grade-appropriate resources to make an impact on students and families with the tools they need for long, healthy lives.

Thank you, Manitoba Safeway teammates, for your passion to serve your communities and help those most vulnerable when they need it most. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed! By working together, we can truly make a difference for families across our province.

Saskatchewan Safeway teammates step up to donate more than $22,000 in support of children’s health and cancer care

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

For Safeway teammates, giving back to the causes close to home has always been second nature. In fact, its been more than a decade that teammates have proudly participated in the Safeway payroll donation program.

A few dollars from each paycheque truly go a long way in supporting the organizations that make a tangible difference in the lives of Saskatchewan families. This is especially true for those who receive care at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

In 2020, our Saskatchewan teammates donated more than $7,600 to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation through the payroll donation program. This gift will be used to purchase a critically-needed piece of equipment within the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit — a Butterfly IQ Ultrasound.

The Butterfly IQ Ultrasound is a pocket-sized device that can turn a smartphone into a portable, bedside ultrasound machine. This specialized mobile imaging equipment is vital to ensuring the highest level of speed, accuracy and infection control when every second counts. By bringing treatment and diagnosis to the bedside, children and caregivers are able to feel more comfortable and manage anxiety.

You also collectively donated more than $6,700 through the payroll donation program to the Heart and Stroke Foundation to support a strong future for HeartSmart Kids — a program designed in collaboration with Indigenous communities. HeartSmart Kids is a unique classroom and family resource that takes a wholistic approach to improving health using a comprehensive set of tools, tactics and resources. This no-charge education program is offered to Indigenous children from kindergarten to grade six and includes grade-appropriate resources to make an impact on students and families with the tools they need for long, healthy lives.

In addition, more than $8,500 was donated through the payroll donation program to the Canadian Cancer Society in support of Wheels of Hope. Since the mid 1950s, the Society has provided volunteer driver transportation assistance for people with cancer. The contribution of our Saskatchewan teammates will help 20 drivers make over 2,750 return trips, totalling close to 50,000 km.

Thank you, Saskatchewan Safeway teammates, for your passion to serve your communities and help those most vulnerable when they need it most. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed! By working together, we can truly make a difference for families across our province.

B.C. Safeway teammates step up to donate more than $100,000 in support of B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society & Heart and Stroke Foundation

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

For Safeway teammates, giving back to the causes close to home has always been second nature. In fact, its been more than a decade that teammates have proudly participated in the Safeway payroll donation program.

A few dollars from each paycheque truly go a long way in supporting the organizations that make a tangible difference in the lives of B.C. families. This is especially true for those who receive care at B.C. Children’s Hospital.

In 2020, our B.C. teammates donated more than $43,000 to the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation through the payroll donation program. This gift will go towards further enhancements of the Belly Breath App.

Deep, purposeful breathing (belly breathing) has been shown to be an effective distraction and coping strategy that can help to reduce distress in children. The Belly Breath App teaches kids how to belly breathe through the use of a personalized cartoon avatar in a hot air balloon that inhales and exhales bubbles to teach and encourage deep breathing.

B.C. teammates also donated more than $42,000 through the payroll donation program in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. This contribution will help provide better access to the resources cancer patients need, both online and in-person. This also means that the Canadian Cancer Society will have the funds needed to purchase critical safety equipment and cleaning protocols at their lodges. Equipping staff with the proper safety gear, face shields and other protective measures will keep patients safe while they undergo cancer treatment.

But you didn’t just stop there. By working together, our B.C. Safeway teammates collectively donated more than $20,000 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation to support a strong future for HeartSmart Kids — a program designed in collaboration with Indigenous communities. HeartSmart Kids is a unique classroom and family resource that takes a wholistic approach to improving health using a comprehensive set of tools, tactics and resources. This no-charge education program is offered to Indigenous children from kindergarten to grade six and includes grade-appropriate resources to make an impact on students and families with the tools they need for long, healthy lives.

Thank you, B.C. Safeway teammates, for your passion to serve your communities and help those most vulnerable when they need it most. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed! By working together, we can truly make a difference for families across our province.

Alberta Safeway teammates step up to donate more than $300,000 in support of children’s health

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

For Safeway teammates, giving back to the causes close to home has always been second nature. In fact, it’s been more than a decade that teammates have proudly participated in the Safeway payroll donation program.

A few dollars from each paycheque truly go a long way in supporting the organizations that make a tangible difference in the lives of Alberta families. This is especially true for the children who receive care at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary and the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.

In 2020, our Alberta teammates donated more than $178,000 to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation through the payroll donation program. This gift will have a direct impact on three hospital programs:

Mental health care – Facing Your Fears program

The Facing Your Fears program helps high-functioning autistic children identify their worries and tackle them head-on. Guided by a team of experts that includes psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists, the 14-week program empowers kids and their parents with a suite of new coping skills and strategies through classes, workbooks and training sessions.

Mental health research

When a child suffers from anxiety or depression, the right medication can be transformative. Using the DNA in children’s saliva, experts will be able to better tailor medications to a child based on genetic markers. The data will provide scientists with invaluable information that will enable future discoveries and better treatment.

Rotary Flames House

The Rotary Flames House, located next door to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, is one of only six pediatric hospices in Canada and the only one in Alberta. Expert care is provided by a team of trained health care professionals committed to ensuring that each child and their family’s physical, developmental, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs are met in a sensitive and compassionate manner. Through donations like that from our Safeway teammates, the Rotary Flames House is able to provide a wide range of services for this special group of patients and their families.

In addition, more than $48,000 was donated through the payroll donation program to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation to help expand round-the-clock mental health support to children, youth and families. Stollery will be able to create integrated mental health services within the emergency department, boost 24/7 helpline support, and create a separate walk-in clinic to provide timely access to an expert team of nurses, social workers, therapists, and child and adolescent psychiatrists.

But you didn’t just stop there. By working together, our Alberta Safeway teammates collectively donated close to $77,000 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation to support a strong future for HeartSmart Kids — a program designed in collaboration with Indigenous communities. HeartSmart Kids is a unique classroom and family resource that takes a wholistic approach to improving health using a comprehensive set of tools, tactics and resources. This no-charge education program is offered to Indigenous children from kindergarten to grade six and includes grade-appropriate resources to make an impact on students and families with the tools they need for long, healthy lives.

Thank you, Alberta Safeway teammates, for your passion to serve your communities and help those most vulnerable when they need it most. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed! By working together, we can truly make a difference for families across our province.

Help us celebrate the second annual checkstand campaign for the A Family of Support: Child and Youth Mental Health Initiative

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

At Safeway, we’re driven by our purpose of being a family nurturing families and we’re excited to bring this to life with a very special campaign in our stores.

In partnership with the Sobey Foundation and Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations (CCHF), we’re proud to kick off the second annual checkstand campaign in support of the A Family of Support: Child & Youth Mental Health Initiative. Our goal is to come together with our teammates, partners and customers to continue advocating for children and youth with mental health challenges.

About the campaign

From September 16 – 30, Canadians from coast-to-coast will have the opportunity to donate $2.00 (or more!) when checking out at Safeway and any Sobeys Inc. banner stores.

100 per cent of the funds raised will be donated to support the A Family of Support initiative and are directed through 15 regional programs across 13 children’s hospitals in Canada. This means that the funds raised in each community, stay in the community, and support children and youth close to home. The donation proceeds will play an important role in helping each hospital implement specialized mental health programs for their children and youth.

A huge thank you to our frontline teammates who are essential to bringing this important cause to life in our stores. By inviting customers to support their local children’s hospital, our cashiers are truly our checkstand champions and we couldn’t do it without them!

Last year’s checkstand campaign was a huge success, raising over 2 million in stores, and we can’t wait to build on this for 2021! Thank you for your continued support and for your ongoing commitment to help create healthier tomorrows for more kids and families in your community!

Resources

  • Learn more about our family of support at afamilyofsupport.com.
  • Your wellbeing, and the wellbeing of your family, is so important to us. Visit sobeysmentalwellbeing.com for more information to support your mental wellbeing and wellness needs.

One kindness rock at a time!

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Did you hear? The Starbucks at Windermere Safeway in Edmonton made waves this summer with a new challenge.

To commemorate Random Acts of Kindness Week, children in the community were asked to paint a kindness rock to give the Starbucks Siren Mermaid her shimmering tail and smile back. And sure enough, more than 60 kids got in on the fun!

This unique challenge is yet another incredible example of how our store teammates go above and beyond to engage with their community to spread goodwill.

Check out some of the super cool rocks:

 

And here’s the Starbucks Siren Mermaid with her shimmering tail and smile back:

A special shout out goes out to Starbucks Operator Maybelline Lee for creating this challenge that meaningfully engaged with the community — spreading kindness and positivity in a time when it’s needed most.

Thank you, Maybelline, for living out our community-engaged Value and inspiring other teammates to find a way to do the same.

Do you have an idea to better engage with your community and customers? Be sure to share with your Store Manager. They’re always there to support you!