Full Circle Project brings seasonal cheer 

The GFL Full Circle Project (FCP) ensures GFL’s charitable giving positively impacts our shared local communities and that we support the causes that matter most to them.  

The holiday season is an important time for giving back and showing support for our charity partners, one of which is Send Santa to the Troops.  

“It’s an amazing organization that does good work,” Sarah Burton said. Burton works as a GFL dispatcher for GFL’s Saginaw, Michigan location and has been involved with this charity for several years. 

The Saginaw branch annually gets involved with the Send Santa to the Troops charity, which puts together and sends care packages to US troops overseas.  

Through the Full Circle Project, GFL has donated US $5000 to this charity.  

Send Santa to the Troops holds an annual care package drive for military personnel deployed overseas for the holidays, hosted by the Yellow Ribbon Guard.    

“My cousin and best friend, [her] husband had been deployed in 2005 and was one of the first recipients to receive a care package,” Burton said.  

Unfortunately, he was a casualty of active duty, which inspired Burton to become heavily involved in ensuring more soldiers receive donations from Send Santa to the Troops.   

Burton has continued spreading the word about the charity work through her GFL branch and the local community.   

Due to covid, the annual drive was put on hold, and this is the first year starting back up again. Before the pandemic, they sent troops approximately 1000 care packages.    

“We hope to bring back ‘Stuff the Bus’ once things get going again,” Burton said. ‘Stuff the Bus’ goes to various locations to allow people to make their donations.  

This year, donations have been gathered from local communities by asking vendors and encouraging people to volunteer by helping pack and send the packages.  

“Care packages could include anything from beef jerky, granola bars, magazines, hygiene products and other various items,” Burton said.  

GFL staff will help the local community by preparing and sending care packages from the Bay City Armory in Michigan.  

Packages will be sent to the Michigan National Guard, who will then send to their units overseas.  

“The soldiers appreciate it, we do receive thank you cards, videos and photos,” Burton said.  

Here are a few other FCP holiday projects our branches have been involved with:  

Lancaster County Project for the Needy 
GFL branch: Lancaster, PA 
Through FCP, GFL donated US $2500 to the Lancaster County Project for the Needy. This charity annually collects donations to distribute over1200 boxes of food to their community for the holiday season. GFL Lancaster staff devoted volunteer time to distributing these boxes to those who need them.   

St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation  
GFL branch: Vancouver Hauling, BC  
At the darkest time of year, the Lights of Hope illuminates Vancouver’s Burrard Street corridor and transforms St. Paul’s hospital into a beacon of light and joy. Through FCP, GFL donated CA $5000 to the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Lights of Hope event. Funding will go towards needed equipment, life-saving research, community programs, medical teaching initiatives, and other essential patient and resident services.

Le Noel du Pauvre/ The Poor Man’s Christmas  
GFL branch: Trois-Rivieres Hauling, QC 
Le Noel du Pauvre/ The Poor Man’s Christmas, a charity that helps people in difficulty in the Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec region during the holiday season, received a CA $2,000 FCP donation. Local GFL employees help put together care packages and gifts for those in need. They want to help their community and bring people together to help others.

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina  
GFL branch: Durham, NC  
Through FCP, GFL donated US $10,000 to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The food bank works daily to provide food to people in need while building solutions to end hunger in local communities. Throughout the year, GFL Durham staff volunteer to sort and package food at the Durham and Raleigh food bank. The rising cost of food and other essentials means that many of our friends and neighbors will not have a holiday meal to look forward to. This year, GFL is proud to be one of the Holiday Meal Match Sponsors. A holiday meal match will be provided with every donation given. Every $1 helps provide ten meals.   

The Mustard Seed 
GFL branch: Edmonton, AB 
The Mustard Seed is a charity that cares for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty in Edmonton. They provide a supportive haven where people can have their physical, mental and spiritual needs met and grow in greater health. GFL’s FCP has donated CA $5000 towards this continued work. The holidays can be isolating for those that don’t have loved ones to share them with but giving back to communities that need support can make a significant difference.    

Thank you to all GFL employees who have participated in FCP and given their time as volunteers this year.  

• Previous
• next