Sears Operation Wish invites Canadians to salute our troops and their
families
QUÉBEC CITY, Dec. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Sabryna Malette, Sarah-Kim Boucher
and Alexandre Girard won the essay challenge launched by the Valcartier Military Family Resource Centre, in collaboration with the Sears Operation Wish program. Children of
military personnel attending Valcartier based schools Alexander Wolff,
Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Roger-Comtois (Loretteville) were asked to
write about growing up in a military family. Canadian military
personnel and their families live and work in communities across the
country, and the soldiers face unique challenges raising a family while
serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.
This essay contest marks the 8th annual Sears Operation Wish program, which was launched today in
partnership with the Valcartier Military Family Resource Centre, the
Canadian Association of Military Family Resource Centres (MFRC) and the
Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). Operation Wish,
which began in 2006 when Canadian Forces personnel stationed overseas
were given Sears Wish Books to purchase Christmas gifts for their
families back home, is a national celebration of military personnel and
their families.
"Through our association with the Valcartier Military Family Resource
Centre, we have learned what a relief it can be to know that someone is
helping to take care of your family and looking out for their
well-being," said Jean-François Tremblay, General Manager, Sears
Laurier Quebec. "We are very proud to provide a vehicle, through
Operation Wish, to help Quebec residents show their support for our
military and their families based in Valcartier. While the program
looks a bit different each year, the goal is always the same - to build
a bridge between the local military base and the community by providing
a way we, as a community, can show our support for our military friends
and neighbours."
Operation Wish events were held today in communities near military bases
across the country where Sears announced an initiative in support of
children of active military personnel. Sears is making a $10,000
donation to the newly formed Canadian Association of Military Family
Resource Centres (MFRCs). Since Operation Wish's inception in 2006,
Sears has donated over $100,000 to national military family support
programs.
Sears also introduced an additional fundraising initiative to support
the important work done by every MFRC across Canada. Each year, Sears
sells a special, limited edition plush with $2 from the sale of each
plush toy directed to Sears Canada Charitable Foundation youth
development programs. A percentage of money from sales of Nate, the 2013 plush bear, will be donated to the Canadian Association of
MFRCs for their youth programs and a percentage will be given to the
Valcartier Family Centre.
Quebec residents were also invited to the Sear Laurier Quebec store to
send well-wishes to the military by signing a life-size cutout of the Nate bear. The cutout, once filled with signatures, will be sent to the
Valcartier Family Centre as a symbol of the community's support.
"Being in the military, or part of a military family, is not always
easy," said Marie-Claude Michaud, spokesperson for the Valcartier
Family Centre. "It's not uncommon for military families in our
community to still have a loved one deployed far away from home over
the Holiday season. Military families are also often called upon to
move a lot - creating challenges to form new bonds in new communities.
Support of the community, like signing this huge Sears bear cutout,
means a great deal to military personnel and their families."
Marie-Claude Michaud added that financial support from the sale of Nate the bear is also very much appreciated to run important support
programs for military members and their families like Together to better understand. Sunday, December 15, 2013 is also Military Family Shopping Day at
Sears Canada, in which active Canadian military personnel, their
families and veterans receive 15% off most in-store purchases at Sears
department stores, Sears Home stores and Sears Hometown stores.
About Sears Canada
Sears Canada is a multi-channel retailer with a network that includes
181 corporate stores, 241 Hometown stores, over 1,400 catalogue and
online merchandise pick-up locations, 101 Sears Travel offices and a
nationwide repair and service network. The company also publishes
Canada's most extensive general merchandise catalogue and offers
shopping online at www.sears.ca
SOURCE Sears Canada Inc.
