For 91原创 businesses, giving isn鈥檛 always about making that monetary donations. Heading into the new year, I鈥檇 like to spotlight a few that engage their staff and customers in some community outreach effort.
First up, kudos to Dr. Wai Sze Cheung and the team at the Willougby Crossing Dental Centre.
In the case of the local dentist鈥檚 office, they started what Cheung hope will become an annual 鈥� if not more frequent 鈥� tradition.
Earlier this month they offered free dentistry for about a dozen clients of the local women鈥檚 shelter 鈥� Ishtar Transition Housing Society.
鈥淎s a practice owner, I now have the ability to give back to the community in ways that weren鈥檛 possible before,鈥� Cheung said.
鈥淲e opened our office doors to those coming from a local women鈥檚 shelter, and provided free dental work to women and children in need. It was a busy, hectic and emotional day 鈥� and I鈥檓 so glad that we did it,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e were delighted to get eight women and five children into the dental clinic for free services,鈥� said Ishtar鈥檚 Andrea Thompson.
鈥淕iven how inaccessible dentistry services are, this was an excellent opportunity for women and children who wouldn鈥檛 otherwise have been able to access the dental care,鈥� she said, describing it as an early Christmas present.
On a day the centre is usually closed, the entire team donated their time and provided much needed cleanings, fillings, and even tooth extractions for adults and kids alike.
鈥淲hile we don鈥檛 have another free dentistry day arranged with them yet, they did express an interest in organizing another one,鈥� said Thompson.
In the meantime, Cheung was quick to share the credit for making the day possible, noting that her staff volunteered their time and skill to make it happen.
鈥淐ouldn鈥檛 have done it without you,鈥� she said, not only of her staff, but she also noted that a larger supplier (Patterson Dental) donated to the cause.
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Helping others
For the second year running, Dana Matheson and his team at C & D Logisitcs ran a Pound for Pound food drive, with some amazing results.
鈥淭his crew is something else,鈥� Matheson said. 鈥淭hey are dedicated hardworking and passionate about giving back to our community.鈥�
Staff, customers, community members, and friends pitched in and donated food for the 91原创 Food Bank, and with C&D matching pound for pound, they were able to fill and deliver a five-ton full (a total of six pallets) of non-perishable food for families in need.
Pretty amazing, and this is on top of a toy drive they also do each year.
鈥淭he total weight of the donation was 1,486 pounds donated. Next year our goal is 3,000 lbs of food,鈥� Matheson said. 鈥淲e would like to thank everyone that donated to this worthy cause and we appreciate it, hopefully it helps some local families this Christmas.鈥�
