Staebler Insurance’s Charity & Community Involvement Committee is proud to share our recent donation to the ToastyToes Waterloo Region Fund to help support the most vulnerable people in our community.

ToastyToes is a fund that collects donations and, in turn, grants funds to Waterloo Region-based community groups and agencies who provide new socks for people who are currently experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.

The annual ToastyToes campaign began on October 10, under the guidance of Sharon Gilroy-Dreher, and runs until December 10.

Sharon founded ToastyToes in 2013 in honour of what would have been her late Mom’s 80th birthday. She was inspired to do something that would capture her Mom’s caring spirit and desire to ensure others are taken care of.

It was originally meant to be a one-year project but after hearing about the community-wide need and the importance of socks to vulnerable people, Sharon continued to accept sock donations and collected more than 130,000 pairs in 7 years. She shared that having a dry pair of socks warms the body, boosts confidence, and reduces the risk of illnesses.

How to Help ToastyToes Waterloo Region

In 2020, ToastyToes transitioned from a collection and became a fundraiser held with the Waterloo Region Community Foundation that relies on monetary donations from individuals and organizations. While they no longer accept physical sock donations, they use all donations to grant funds to community groups and agencies who purchase what they need, when they need it.

Since pivoting to a fundraiser, ToastyToes has raised more than $170,000 and won the 2023 Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, Business Excellence Award for Best Non-Profit/Charity.

Grants are awarded on an as-needed basis and don’t require a complicated application process. Recipients are only required to share a photo of the socks they purchased with the grant money.

More than 12 local agencies, including A Better Tent City, Going Mobile KW, Family & Children’s Services Foundation, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo, and YW Kitchener-Waterloo, received a grant in 2022.

This year, Sharon’s goal is to receive donations from 90 local organizations to celebrate “90 for Nana” – during what would have been her Mom’s 90th birthday. Staebler Insurance is proud to be among the Waterloo Region businesses to contribute to the ToastyToes campaign in 2023.

To contribute to the ToastyToes Fund and the cost of a package of socks, please visit: Toasty Toes Waterloo Region Fund — Waterloo Region Community Foundation (wrcf.ca)

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Staebler Insurance is a general insurance broker specializing in car insurance, home insurance, small business, and commercial insurance. Staebler brokers proudly serve Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford, Listowel, Fergus, Elora, Wellington County, Perth County, Waterloo Region and southern Ontario. Get a Quote to get started today.