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Dorothy's Helping Hands, Toronto, ON (2026)

02/13/2025

Hi everyone, I'm still here and shipping items up north.
I have attached pictures for some of the items I sent (I seem to be missing some photos)

Since mid November 2024, I have sent 29 boxes to these communities.
In Nunavut:
1. Arctic Bay
2. Arviat
3. Baker Lake
4. Cape Dorset
5. Clyde River
6. Igloolik
7. Iqaluit
8. Naujaat
9. Pangnirtung
10. Pond Inlet
11. Qikiqtarjuaq
12. Resolute Bay
In Ontario, Fort Hope
In Quebec, Puvirnituq

The posted items in these boxes were:
1. Assorted jigsaw puzzles: C & D
2. Assorted fabric pieces in yellows, oranges and beige/brown with 7 trims/bindings/etc
3. Assorted fabric/remnants pinks and red with 7 trims/binding etc
4. 2 spools of crochet thread, wooden pieces that can be used as stencils after you remove the punch out pieces, 10 sets of bible memory makers, 2 rolls of jute type twine, roll of steel wire and 2 rolls of ribbon, 6 DIY plaques with chain hangers
5. 4 painting canvases A set of acrylic paints and brushes Coloured pencils Craft scissors Package of lined paper Pens & pencils, erasers Wooden model kit 3 spools of ribbon, twine and paper bags to use for puppets or other craft projects.
6. Tupperware "Cake taker" with lid, Corelle mugs (2), 4 matching Corelle bowls with side plate, another Corelle side plate, 2 bathroom towels, 2 red quilted placemats, 5 thin plastic glasses
7. Flannel 3m, 5.5m blue fabric, 6.5m georgette and 1m flimsy fabric
8. Assorted Jewelry making items: wooden beads, storage kit with assorted jewelry making items, etc
9. New Year's draw gift #6: 4 strands of glass beads, bead mat, 3 beading tools, DOVE set with deodorant, shampoo and body wash
10. Super soft chunky yarns, 14 balls
11. #2 Foot stool, matching bathroom towels, 4 bars of Ivory soap, 2 candles, 4 new Corelle lunch plates and a make up bag
12. Assorted beads #1 (sml pouches of beads and 3 strands of glass beads), tupperware storage container with lid
13. Foot stool, matching bathroom towels, 4 bars of Ivory soap, 2 candles, 4 new Corelle lunch plates and a make up bag
14. 2 men's suits size 38R
15. Assorted beads
16. Assorted cutlery "B"
17. Flannel sheet set for single bed, cotton flat sheet for single bed and a blue fleece throw blanket (48x54)
18. 2 jigsaw puzzles, colouring books, markers, travel games, DIY kits and small lego kits
19. Assorted fabric remants (10-11 lbs) lot 2
20. 10 lbs of fabric "D"
21. about 20 pieces of Dowel, 2 small hammers, 3/4" and 1" finishing nails, 14 balls of crochet cotton
22. Assorted beads #2 (sml pouches of beads and 3 strands of glass beads), tupperware storage container with lid
23. 10 lbs of fabric "C"
24. Assorted Painting supplies/craft items #1
25. Assorted fabric/remnants pinks and purples with 7 trims/binding etc
26. Assorted jigsaw puzzles: A, B & E
27. Queen bed fitted and flat flannel sheet set, Single bed fitted & flat flannel sheet set, matching pillow case and 2 unmatched pillow cases
28. Assorted fabric/remnants blacks and whites with 7 trims/binding etc
29. Assorted cutlery "A"

The added surprises included
• 1 piece of navy cotton/poly, 1m of Tweed fabric, about 8 assorted threads, 2 packages of binding tape, some elastic and a red fleece throw blanket
• Sequins and 4 Ivory bar soaps
• a box of table salt took up all the extra weight
• 5 adult clothes hangers, 1000 pc jigsaw puzzle, assorted greeting cards, candy canes 2 youth toothbrushes and a cello sponge
• Assorted greeting cards, bay leaves, Italian seasoning mix, 2 youth toothbrushes, ziploc of assorted hard candies
• WHAM extreme super sour candy sticks, Candy canes
• 4 candy canes, 2 youth toothbrushes, crushed red peppers and bay leaves
• WHAM extreme Super sour candy sticks, assorted chocolates & caramels, candy canes, youth toothbrushes
• Assorted chocolates, candy canes
• 2 pouches of Carnaby gummy candies as packing, an extra hand towel and a red fleece throw blanket and granola bars, and assorted greeting cards
• WHAM extreme super sour candy sticks, candy canes, assorted chocolates & caramels, 2 pouches of spices and a piece of bee's wax to help with threading
• Granola bars, an extra bathroom towel and a large scarf/shawl
• 2 pairs of men's socks, lip balm, Ivory bar soap, toothpaste, 2 toothbrushes
• 4 candy canes, lip balm
• Bay Leaves, assorted hard candy and a candy cane
• 2 mugs, 4 candy canes, bay leaves and assorted hard candies
• Bay leaves, youth toothbrushes, assorted hard candy and a 2 prong extension cord
• 3 candy canes, 2 packages of bias tape
• assorted sewing notions including threads, rick rack and Carnaby gummy candies, assorted greeting cards and a package of Bay Leaves
• WHAM extreme super sour candy sticks, candy canes, assorted chocolates & caramels
• WHAM extreme super sour candy sticks, candy canes, assorted chocolates & caramels, 2 pouches of spices and a piece of bee's wax to help with threading
• assorted Threads and 2 bias tape
• youth toothbrushes, Waterbridge assorted chocolates & caramels, WHAM extreme super sour candy sticks
• A box of table salt, ziplock of assorted hard candies, a pkg of Carnaby gummy rings, 2 youth toothbrushes and a package of sequines
• Gray sherpa lined housecoat, 4 bars of Ivory soap, 2 mugs and ziplock of hard candy as well as numerous granola bars to fill space and add weight
• strand of glass beads, piece of bee's wax
• 4 bars of Ivory soap, 2 youth toothbrushes
• Bay Leaves, assorted hard candy and a candy cane

You can probably tell where I find bargains based on the items I add in. Just the other week, Real Canadian Superstore had 10 pack of Ivory bar soap on sale for $3.99. I went twice and bought a total of 17 packages, that is 170 bars of soap!

The postal strike had a definite impact on what we were able to sent up north.
I’m still working through the donations I have on hand.

I thank you all for your continued support for helping to make this happen.

12/09/2024

Due to the current postal strike, no parcels are going up north.
A few of mine were in transit when the strike began that were delivered after the 15th and have been picked up.
There are another 14 boxes I mailed before the 15th. I can track them as far as either Montreal, Winnipeg or Edmonton and I know they haven’t been logged as delivered to the communities.

The families we ship to rely on the items we sent in these packages. Most of the people belonging to the group I use don’t have enough money to buy new from the local store. I haven’t heard if the stores are running out of items but I know the selections are limited at best, ie available sizes for clothing.

I do have 8 boxes all packed, paid for and addressed ready to be sealed as soon as the postal outlet begins accepting packages.

Hopefully I’ll have a shipping update to share before too long.

11/16/2024

I managed to get 3 more boxes dropped off at the postal outlet before the strike.
These last 3 boxes are going to these communities in Nunavut: Clyde River, Coral Harbour and Resolute Bay.

The boxes contained:
2 pieces of Fleece fabrics 2 m each: solid blue and blue with hockey players;
2m of red fleece with hockey players;
2 advanced level adult jigsaw puzzles, plastic canvas sheets, Christmas themed candle, picture frame, velvety red ribbon and other Christmas themed craft items.

The "surprises" included assorted sewing notions (eg threads, rick rack, safety pins, etc), some candy canes as well as pipe cleaners, children's plastic stencils, mint candies and pencils

I currently have 21 boxes in the postal system. Until the strike is over, none of these boxes will be delivered to the recipients.

Additionally, boxes aren't being accepted at the postal outlets until the strike is over. I do have one box ready to be dropped off.

I have been very diligently working through the donations. This weekend was going to be about bundling the toys and Lego since government payments are received around the 20th of each month so they would be able to pay for shipping and boxes would reach their communities in time for Christmas.

11/14/2024

Hello all, I’m back from holidays and I’ve been busy sorting donations and shipping boxes off to northern communities in Canada.
So far this month I’ve dropped off 19 boxes at the post office. 17 of them are still in transit to their final destinations.

A box is on its way to Churchill, Manitoba with 3 strands of coloured glass beads and a kit of making elastic bracelets. I added a few candy canes (purchased after Christmas 2023 at a great discount), a couple of youth aged toothbrushes, some small animal collectible things and Christmas themed greeting cards.

Communities in Nunavut receiving boxes this month have been Arviat, Kugaaruk, Naujaat, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuag, Rankin Inlet and Taloyoak. The “listed” items in these boxes are:
1. Men's XL track pants 3 pairs and 1 pair of XXL
2. Knife set (6 steak knives, large knife and fork, sharpening tool), 2 round Christmas themed serving bowls, 2 spools of wired ribbon
3. Assorted Fabric A
4. Assorted Yarn "3"
5. Assorted Fabric C
6. (M) 1.5m Fleece, jigsaw puzzle and plastic adult clothes hangers
7. Fleece 2 metres, "B" printed feathers
8. King sized organic cotton blanket 82"x90"
9. 4 bath sized towels and 2 bars of Ivory soap
10. Rectangular plastic canvas x2, 6 styles of Christmas themed plastic canvas (3 or 4 of each style), Christmas themed craft items, tapered candles, red bead kit and partial balls of cotton yarn.
11. Corelle cups, 4 small square Corelle bowls, small round Corelle bowl, 2 knives, 4 storage containers, pair of pine cone candles plus 2 bathroom towels
12. Step stool, Corelle: 2 platters, 3 dinner plates, 2 lunch plates, 2 bathroom towels
13. Assorted Yarn "2"
14. Rectangular plastic canvas x2, 6 styles of Christmas themed plastic canvas (3 or 4 of each style), Christmas themed craft items, tapered candles, 2 strands of glass beads blue & silver and partial balls of cotton yarn.
15. Men's L track pants, 5 pairs
16. Assorted Fabric B
17. 4 very large balls of yarn, 2 smaller ones and one new ball or yarn
Items I added to these boxes include:
1. Men's XL 1/4 zip fleece sweater, 2 big pieces of fabric, 4 spools of thread
2. Candy Canes, 2 children's toothbrushes, toothpaste
3. 6 spools of thread
4. 2 stoneware mugs, 2 children's toothbrushes, table salt, tall Christmas candle, 2 bars ivory soap, new pair of ladies socks
5. 3 spools of thread put the box up to 4.999 kg
6. Corelle side plates (2 sizes total of 4), Corelle dinner plate, 2 rolls of wired ribbon and a tube of cotton rounds
7. added tweed fabric, a few other pieces of fabric, threads, candy canes and a few youth toothbrushes
8. Corelle serving platter, 2 youth toothbrushes, 3 bars of soap
9. assorted greeting cards, brand new 6ft extension cord and a reusable cloth grocery bag
10. 4 sheets of Christmas wrapping paper, 3 candy canes, 4 Christmas greeting cards, Italian seasoning mix, thyme, small partial ball of yarn
11. Sewing notions: threads, bias tape, rick rack and a few candy canes
12. yarns to pack everything tight, 2 bars of dove soap and a tube of round cotton pads
13. 5 spools of Embroidery thread, handful of candy canes and 2 youth toothbrushes
14. (blank)
15. Men's L fleece hoodie x2, 2 bars of ivory soap, assorted greeting cards
16. 6 spools of thread, 2 children's toothbrushes
17. 3 extra balls of yarn and a few candy canes

The last box is on its way to Eabamet Lake is full with Purple Tupperware storage container with 13 baggies of assorted beads, 2 strands of glass beads. The surprises I added are 1 pair of fuzzy purple socks, 4 Christmas greeting cards, a tube of children's toothpaste, 2 youth toothbrushes, 4 candy canes, a few little collectible animal things.

I have another box on its way to a fellow member who scouts around for cabbage dolls and she makes corduroy overalls for them, sending 2 pairs of overalls with each cabbage doll. I had a donation of 3 pieces of corduroy which I had listed for up north but after there was no interest over the weekend, I was able to send it Alberta to be made into overalls. I was able to use one of her shipping labels from October's Free Shipping Tuesdays promotion by Canada Post.

I am quickly working through the donations that I have stockpiled over the last months. They have been overflowing (which is something I consider to be awesome) and I need to make room for Christmas in our house.

It truly warms my heart to be able to send out these boxes. Sometimes I can get chatting on messenger with the recipients and I learn so much. The other evening, one lady told me that the outside temperature was -32c with the wind chill that day.
The other day I received a thank you message from one recipient thanking my so much for the few added items (youth toothbrushes and 1 other small item that is escaping me at the moment). She was so thankful because those things are so expensive where she lives.

I am very grateful to the donors who support sending these boxes.
Thank you very much.

Address

Toronto, ON

Website

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