Holiday Match collections may have wrapped up for the year, but the fun hasn’t stopped for our Donations Team! Right now, we’re working hard to allocate the funds to all of the deserving nonprofit organizations who applied. Checks will be hitting the mail in March, and in the meantime, we thought we’d share how one organization, The Oswego County Pioneer Search & Rescue Team (OCSAR), put last year’s Holiday Match funds to use.
OCSAR is the primary resource in their area for incidents involving lost or missing persons. With the Holiday Match funds from last year, they were able to install 50 directional trail signs in the Great Bear Recreation Area, a popular hiking spot. Unfortunately, OCSAR has had to respond to numerous calls for lost hikers in this area, so these much-needed trail signs will help keep hikers safe and on track!
We have supported OCSAR for over a decade through Holiday Match, and this is not the only project we’ve been able to help them achieve! “Through Stewart’s grants we purchased a pop-up tent, created a ‘Scout’ mascot, presented our ‘Hug-a-Tree’ curriculum, purchased DVDs, instructor manuals, coloring books, and distributed brochures, whistles and Mylar blankets,” said Janet Clerkin, OCSAR’s Public Information Officer. “The Stewart’s Holiday Match program has had a tremendous impact on our programming. We are very grateful for your support.”
Holiday Match is giving program benefiting children’s nonprofit organizations. We match our customers’ donations penny for penny, with no administrative fees. In 2020, with the help of our generous customers we raised more than $1.88 million for the kids in our communities!