In Grade 6, I met a girl named Fatima. Her family had recently immigrated to Canada from Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. She had long, shiny black hair, expressive brown eyes and the most lovely, shapely eyebrows.
(My obsession with perfect brows began shortly after I met her. Whenever I hear the expression “eyebrows on fleek”, I can’t help but think of her, where she is today, and if her eyebrows are still fabulous. And somehow, I just know they are.)
Fatima’s family arrived in November, shortly after the first snowfall of the season. The timing of her arrival is perfectly preserved in my mind, mainly because I was tasked with walking her to and from the school office during recess.
You see, Fatima didn’t have a winter coat.
We didn’t speak during the short walks from our portable to the office, mutually overcome with embarrassment. But I recall feeling confused and irritated, thinking, who sends their kid to school in winter without a warm coat? Fatima’s jacket – what I’d consider to be a windbreaker – was thin and flimsy.
What I didn’t realize then, which I’m acutely aware of now, is that being unprepared for our cold winters is an obstacle for many newcomers to Canada. In fact, this year, it’s expected that approximately 200,000 newcomers will move to our country and experience the extreme cold of their first Canadian winter. And for many of these men, women and children, they’ll have arrived without the basic necessities to face the elements.
This is why the Quaker brand is giving the gift of a warm coat to those newcomers who need it most.
Starting in October, when you purchase specially marked Quaker instant oatmeal or Quaker Chewy granola bars, Quaker will donate $0.05 towards the purchase of a warm coat to a newcomer in-need. With over 100,000 newcomers who identify as in-need each year, Quaker wants to make a difference in their lives by not only giving them a warm start to their day, but a warm coat to help prepare them for the winter.
I’m proud to lend my support to this campaign. The Quaker brand has been warming Canadian families with hot oatmeal since 1902, helping them to get a good start to their mornings and feel prepared for the day ahead. They have a long history of supporting local communities and those in need; the Warm Welcome program is a natural extension to lend a helping hand to newcomers in Canada.
Of course, this initiative is only possible if we all come together!
Purchase specially marked Quaker products to help give the gift of a warm winter coat. Embracing winter is synonymous with being Canadian – as is offering a warm welcome to those in need.
For more information on this initiative, please visit www.quakeroats.ca/WarmWelcome.
This post is sponsored by Pepsico Canada ULC. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
Quaker is a classic brand that is trusted and true. Well done Quaker on making warm coats possible.
What a great initiative, will be purchasing!
Way To Go Quaker on making warm coats possible,i lave this brand!
You had a big heart as a little girl noticing her coat wasn’t warm enough. I love that Quaker is doing this. I already buy this brand often but I’ll be sure to buy extra!
I get a craving every once in awhile for a bowl of hot instant oatmeal
Way to go Quaker! We love our Quaker Oatmeal.
This is a wonderful idea! Nothing like a warm bowl of Quaker oatmeal to warm you up!
This is a great initiative! Well done, Quaker!
This warms my heart <3 I love that quaker is doing this. We have a lot of low income families in our area who can't really afford winter clothing for their kids… we need more programs to help with those things, and boots and mittens! Thanks for sharing this Lena I will definitely purchase my share!
Very heartwarming – we need more programs like this.
A great cause that Quaker is doing, good for them!!
This is a very good cause everyone should have a warm winter coat.
We can have harsh winters with lots of snow where we live and a warm coat is an absolute necessity. Kudos to Quaker for promoting this initiative.
I absolutely love this idea! A great idea from a great company
What a great idea! It’s definitely a shocker for many newcomers to Canada when the first snow falls and it’s -30!
This is a great initiative by Quaker! Quaker oatmeal has been my breakfast cereal for years now and its good to know that this company is helping the needy with warm coats. Way to go Quaker!
Awesome great idea , i love Quaker oatmeal , thanks for sharing !
What a wonderful initiative! Bravo Quaker!! ????
Breakfast is the most important meal!!
Quaker instant oatmeal is often our breakfast on a cold morning
I am so glad that Quaker is doing this wonderful program.
I love this initiative. Way to go Quaker, proud to purchase and support this brand.
I love Quaker Oats and the Maple & Brown Sugar is my favorite.I also really like the Apples & Cinnamon oats too.Quaker Oats is sponsoring a good program to ensure that everyone has a warm coat.
We need programs running like this all the time !
This is heart warming. And I’m glad it’s a trustworthy brand doing it!
Nice hope you can supply warm jackets to needy Canadians too
This is a great promotion that Quaker is involved in.
Disappointed that homeless people and veterans are not our first priority.
Its sad to have to ask this, what about our homeless people and veterans?
I always knew that Canada would be very different for someone coming here from another country – especially if their travel here was fraught (due to war, or if they are refugees). Adjusting to weather like ours (especially in the East!) would be hard enough – never mind if you don’t have a coat :(
I’ll have to look to see if this offer is available with the rolled oats – I love slow cooker oats.
A wonderful story. I hope many get nice warm coats!
My kids love Quaker products we buy it all Its awesome that they did this
Why new comers? What about our own who are in need?
I have purchased specially marked Quaker products for the cause but I often wonder about all of our people who also need help…………who’s helping them
Sounds like a great campaign!
Really warm initiative. I like oats by quaker.
Love this initiative! Way to go, Quakers.
Since we have started eating quaker it has become a staple in our home!