They came, they coloured, they glued.

Inspired by the University of Toronto (U of T) United Way Campaign and the spirit of the holidays, the HR & Equity team came together for its inaugural Day of Community on Tuesday, November 22. For its first charitable initiative, the team decorated and stuffed 150 breakfast care bags for families at Toronto’s Ronald McDonald House.

Since 1981, the House has provided families with a home away from home for seriously ill children and their families, while in Toronto receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Families often arrive at the House with very few personal items or everyday essentials. Often, food is the last thing on their minds as they rush out the door in the morning for the hospital. Building care bags for families is a great way to bring comfort to their lives and help relieve some of the financial burden they face.

Coorganizer, Nora Lozano said that the goal was to bring the HR team together and have a bit of fun, while at the same time spending the time “doing something meaningful” by providing the House with bags of snacks-to-go. Some staff members also enlisted friends and family, taking bags home to decorate.

The HR team decorated reusable bags, which were donated by the U of T Bookstore. Each bag was uniquely decorated and included breakfast snack items, as well as crayons, supplied by Rotman School of Management.

The bags will be delivered to Ronald McDonald House on Wednesday, November 23.