Stocking drive makes sure transitional housing residents have a Merry Christmas

(Left to right) Tara Duncan and Angila Peters introducing a wide variety of Reel Treats' goodies to attendees of the Discover Dundas walking tour on Oct. 22. Peters, who also talked about Reel Treats' history and event space, is looking for a new owner to take over the candy and snack shop as she focuses on her health. (Emily Stewart Photo).

Emily Stewart

The Oxford County Community Health Centre (OCCHC) is looking to make spirits brighter for 25 residents in transitional housing.

The OCCHC is running a stocking drive until Dec. 10. The organization will be accepting new unwrapped items such as books, toothbrushes, toothpaste, chocolate, water bottles and other items for their transitional homes in Woodstock and Tillsonburg. The stockings will be gifted to 21 adult and four youth residents in transitional housing.

Jade Davies, Tillsonburg case manager and team lead for OCCHC, explained that transitional housing is for those who experienced homelessness and are looking for a place to stay before moving into stabilized housing.

“We like to focus on the fact it's not just mental health and addictions. It's literally anyone who experiences homelessness, just to get rid of that stigma of the program." 

The OCCHC opened the Woodstock transitional housing in 2020 followed by the Tillsonburg location in 2023 with the help of United Way Oxford and a youth centre opened in 2024. In addition to providing stockings for the residents, OCCHC will host tree lighting and decorating.

“With our housing programs, we try to make it feel like home and provide a Christmas dinner, a stocking for everyone to open,” said Davies. “In the past, we were even able to provide pyjamas at one point to everyone in the program.”

So far, a few donations of toiletries such as shampoo have come in, but the OCCHC is looking for more to fill up the stockings. Davies said every year, the residents are thrilled to receive gifts and it’s a heartwarming experience.

“They were just so excited to get a book, to get a water bottle, to get lots of chocolate snacks, things like that,” she said. “So, everyone has been super appreciative and really grateful in the past and we've seen a high participation in all of our Christmas activities that we run in the houses."

Although the stocking drive will run until Dec. 10, Davies said that any donations that come a bit later will be accepted.

"Anytime in December, we would totally accept them,” she explained.

Donation drop-offs can be arranged by either sending an email to housingintake@oxchc.ca or calling 519-539-1111 ext. 209.