An annual initiative by a Peterborough-based firm that helps children in need head back to school with confidence is expanding beyond Ontario for the first time.
Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory launched its fifth annual “Gear Up for Good” campaign on Thursday (July 23) outside the firm’s King Street office in downtown Peterborough, complete with a school bus.
After previously only supporting children in the Peterborough area, this year’s campaign aims to prepare fully stocked backpacks for children in Manitoba as well, increasing the goal to 300 backpacks.
Of those, 200 will be distributed in the Peterborough region through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough and the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation. Another 100 will be distributed in Manitoba through United Way Winnipeg.
The expansion reflects Gauvreau’s growing presence beyond Ontario. In addition to its Peterborough headquarters and offices in Toronto and Ottawa, the firm has two Manitoba offices in Winnipeg and Steinbach.
“Every child deserves to feel prepared and excited when they walk into their first day of school,” said Gauvreau founder and CEO Robert Gauvreau in a media release.
“Gear Up for Good is about more than backpacks — it’s really about bringing businesses, employees, and community members together to make a meaningful difference for families who need support.”
Over the past five years, the campaign has grown through the support of Gauvreau employees, clients, local businesses, and community members. The firm says the campaign has provided more than 600 fully stocked backpacks to children and families since it began.
During last year’s fourth annual campaign, Gauvreau met and exceeded its goal of 200 backpacks by collecting and distributing 207.
Those backpacks were provided to Peterborough-area children through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough and the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation. The campaign also provided participating children with snacks, haircuts, gift cards for future haircuts, and pizza dinners.
Peterborough business Ricart Branded Apparel & Promo donated 100 backpacks to last year’s campaign, while around 200 Gauvreau employees contributed by donating and packing supplies and helping coordinate the initiative.
This year, Gauvreau is once again inviting businesses, organizations, and community members to donate backpacks and school supplies, along with healthy snacks, water bottles, lunch bags, children’s haircuts, salon or barber services, and financial contributions that can be used to purchase needed items.
“Community partnerships are what make this campaign possible,” Gauvreau said.
“Whether it’s a fully stocked backpack, a haircut before the first day of school, or a donation of supplies, every single contribution helps set a child up for success — and gives them confidence to start the school year.”
Requested school supplies include backpacks, lunch bags and food containers, water bottles, pens, pencils, crayons, pencil cases, sharpeners, erasers, markers, highlighters, scissors, and calculators.
The Gear Up for Good campaign continues until Wednesday, August 12. Separate Amazon wish lists for Ontario and Manitoba, along with more information about contributing, are available at gauvreaucpa.ca/gearupforgood.
Donations can also be dropped off by noon on August 12 at Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory at 150 King Street West, Suite 100, in downtown Peterborough.
The backpacks are scheduled to be distributed on August 18.
