From Our Family to Yours: Sears Canada Salutes Military Families At the 9th Annual Sears Operation Wish
Public Invited to Send Well-Wishes to Local military members and their Families
By Signing Operation Wish Postcards
VICTORIA, Dec. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - With Christmas just around the corner, here's a perfect gift idea that fits right in with the Holiday spirit of community and giving.
Sears Canada, as part of its 9th annual Operation Wish program in support of local military members and their families, invites the community to visit the Sears Hillside Centre department store to sign a postcard expressing their Holiday season wishes to show support of Canadian Armed Forces members and their families who make up an important part of the communities in and around Greater Victoria.
The Operation Wish "From Our Family To Yours" postcards will be available at the customer service desks at the Sears Hillside Centre department store through Sunday, December 7, 2014. These signed postcards will be displayed at the store throughout the week, and they will then be delivered to the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre. Sears Canada works in partnership with the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) to organize Operation Wish, which pays tribute to and honours the Canadian military, both at home and abroad, and their families.
"Since 2006, Sears Canada has honoured and recognized the often selfless contribution military and their families make to this community and our country," said Michele Venables, General Manager, Sears Hillside. "Over the years, we have done many different things, such as encouraging our customers to sign large banners and Holiday cards with well-wishes, which we sent to deployed troops who were away from home over the Holidays. The goal is always the same, to bring those serving and their families closer together at Christmastime."
Operation Wish postcards are also being collected at Sears stores in other cities near military bases across the country such as Halifax, Valcartier, QC, Winnipeg and Belleville.
Sears is also donating $10,000 to help support national Military Family Service Programs youth oriented programs, along with a percentage of funds raised through sales of its special, limited edition plush bear, Finn. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of Finn are donated to Sears Canada Charitable Foundation sponsored organizations that support the healthy development of Canadian youth, and the Sears Foundation will donate a percentage of the proceeds from Finn's sale to local MFRCs.
Since its inception in 2006, the Sears Operation Wish program has donated in excess of $125,000 to support both national and local military family support programs.
"For military families, it is always gratifying to receive support from the community" said Jackie Carlé, Esquimalt MFRC. "Military families are resilient and used to making the best of time together as well as time apart. Events like this, especially during the Holidays are truly heartwarming. It is often the little things we do for each other than make a big difference."
Sears Canada has also made Sunday, December 7, 2014 Military Family Shopping Day, where active Canadian military personnel, their families and veterans receive a 15 percent discount on most items sold at Sears department stores, Sears Home, Sears Hometown stores and online at www.sears.ca. It runs from midnight to midnight (eastern time) on the 7th. Valid military ID or CF Appreciation Card is required at any Sears store in Canada.
About Sears Canada
Sears Canada is a multi-channel retailer with a network that includes 174 corporate stores, 207 Hometown stores, over 1,300 catalogue and online merchandise pick-up locations, 96 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.
About MFRCs
Some jobs have an element of risk to them. Some jobs require families to relocate to a new community. Some jobs may remove members from their family for extended periods of time. A job in the military incorporates all three of these things. MFRCs are independent, non-profit organizations and experts in supporting the unique military family lifestyle.
SOURCE: Sears Canada Inc.
Contact for Media: Patricia Robitaille, PR Communications Inc., 604-230-0530, [email protected]; Alicia Richler, Sears Canada, Corporate Communications, 416-941-4423, [email protected]
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