Brighten Up the Holidays with Gifts of Light! December 3, 2009

Visit the Tree of Lights at Sherway Gardens (Hwy 427 & the QEW) throughout December and help Sherway Gardens and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) promote the Gifts of Lights campaign to raise money and awareness for mental health and addiction. Each Friday to Sunday throughout the month of December, CAMH staff will distribute pamphlets to interested shoppers and accept donations to the Gifts of Light program in front of Sherway’s new 30 foot Tree of Lights in the Sears’ court. At the end of the campaign, Sherway Gardens will match the donations raised by CAMH up to $2,500. Call 416-621-1070 for more information or visit www.sherwaygardens.ca.

One in five Canadians will experience mental illness or addiction during their lifetime and too many people suffer in silence and feel alone in their search for help. Because of the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction, many of the people staying at CAMH do not receive cards, gifts or even visitors while undergoing treatment. As a result, it can be a lonely journey on the road to recovery – especially over the holidays.

The Gifts of Light campaign brings hope and comfort to those staying at CAMH over the holidays by providing patients with a meaningful expression of care that lets them know someone is thinking of them and that they’re not alone in their journey to recovery. Each Gift of Light is either a real and personal gift that will be given to a patient staying at CAMH over the holidays, or a gift that assists a patient along the road to recovery. Visit http://www.camhgiftsoflight.ca/ for more information on Gifts of Light and to view the Gifts of Light catalogue.

As you shop for friends and family, please consider those in your community who will be alone this holiday season.

Official Website: http://www.sherwaygardens.ca