Meet Our 2022 Spruce Up Your Story Holiday Edition Recipients
When we started our Spruce Up Your Story community support campaign in 2020, we knew we could do more to help individual families, business owners, and broker partners in need of some support. Our broker partners’ involvement inspired us, and so we introduced an extension of the Spruce Up Your Story campaign for the holiday season – exclusively for them!
The Spruce Up Your Story Holiday Edition focuses on supporting people experiencing difficult situations, so they can still have a happy holiday season in whatever way that is meaningful to them, and it gives our broker partners another opportunity to advocate for you, their customers, and make a positive impact.
This year, we’re glad to provide $6,000 split between five individuals/families across Manitoba and Saskatchewan:
- Ron & Elizabeth Schalla (the Rustic Wedding Barn) – story shared by Bev from Brio Insurance
- Tracy – story shared by Debra from Westland Insurance
- Tyler, Lauryl, and Emma – story shared by Jeff from Morden Agencies
- Susan – story shared by Leanne from Affinity Insurance Brokers
- Carol – story shared by Carol from Knight Archer Insurance
Tracy’s Story – Shared with us through Debra from Westland Insurance
Tracy is the Facility Manager for Midland Manufacturing; makers of Semi-Trailers since its incorporation in 1976. According to their website, “the use of advanced design and manufacturing techniques, along with our commitment to working with the end users of our product has allowed us to supply the products that meet today’s industry needs and wants. Midland has a distribution network of dealers that spans most of North America and their mandate is simple: To provide the best product, the best product support, and the best customer service in the industry.”
What the website doesn’t talk about is how Tracy goes above and beyond to help individuals who otherwise would have a very difficult time getting employment. She helps them set up their driver’s license, get a car loan, find somewhere to live and move there, and teaches them much of the general adult-life skills they may not have learned growing up. Tracy truly takes employee assistance to a whole new level.
I know she could use these funds to help one of her young staff go home to British Columbia for Christmas and to get another one into a safe place to live.
Thank you to Debra for sharing Tracy’s story with us so together we can help her continue sprucing up the holidays for those in need.
Carol’s Story – Shared with us through Carol from Knight Archer Insurance
Carol is a grandma of 10 beautiful grandchildren and two beautiful daughters. This year, her oldest daughter is going through a divorce, so she and her five children have recently moved in with her. Plus, her youngest daughter gave her custody of her five children. With 12 people under one roof, Carol is struggling to make ends meet.
Carol’s eldest daughter does help with what she can, but she is also struggling right now as well. While Carol and the family know they all have each other for Christmas, trying to explain to children that there won’t be much under the tree and that they may not have a dinner would be difficult. Carol is now a single person raising five grand children and helping a mother raise her other five grandchildren.
Carol would love to use the support to make ensure her grandchildren that even though times are tough, Santa is real and he does come to less fortunate homes when in need.
Thank you to Carol for sharing this story with us so together we can help make a positive difference for this family this season.
Thank you to all our broker partners who shared stories with us!
We’re so grateful for our relationship with our broker partners and their continued support of our Spruce Up Your Story giving initiatives – their involvement truly allows us to make an even bigger impact for individuals and communities where it will matter most.