I'm getting to know a lot of people at MaxSys. Every month, someone from their office drops by to donate the proceeds of their jeans day. This week it was Stephanie Csizmadi. This is the third month in a row company representatives have popped in and we love seeing you every time. Keep up the great fundraising work.

I've used MaxSys before as an example of how easy it is for your office or department to raise funds for some of Ottawa's most vulnerable people. At MaxSys, each division across Canada is invited to participate in jeans day. To wear jeans to the office, you have to contribute $5 to that division's charity fund. Company President Bryan Brulotte then matches the donation. See how easy that is? And it does so much good to help the clients at Shepherds of Good Hope.

Start a workplace campaign

Last month when representatives of MaxSys Staffing & Consulting dropped off a donation, the last thing they said was, see you next month.

Sure enough, they were here again yesterday to donate the proceeds of their jeans day. Each division across Canada is participating. To participate, the employee contributes $5 and then founder Bryan Brulotte matches that donation. Each division picks the local charity they want to deal with.

With vacation season over, most workplaces are at full staffing. Now is the time to start your own workplace campaign.

Here are some ideas.

Jeans Day: Okay, I didn't have to think too hard to come up with this one. You know how this works.

Bake Sale Day: Another great way to make Fridays more fun. Everyone can make cookies or some sort of sweet which can be sold throughout the day. If you're a business that has people visiting, let them in on it. It's a great way for you to show off your community spirit to people you probably want to do business with.

Crazy Hat day: Pick a day and let people wear whatever hat they like. Maybe it's an old fashion fedora, a ball cap or a colourful toque. The beauty of this one is it's really easy to put the hat aside if you have to go into an important meeting with visitors. Enjoy some of the crazy hat photos I found on the Internet.

Coffee Day: Take one day a week and donate the proceeds of your coffee fund.

If you need some inspiration or would like to know how your donation impacts so many lives, please contact me at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com or 613-789-8210, ext. 247.

Special days to raise money

How many of you have jeans day or casual day on a Friday? Did you know you can easily turn that day into a fundraiser for Shepherds of Good Hope?

The people at MaxSys Staffing & Consulting do just that. They don't do a jeans day on Fridays. They have their jeans day event around every holiday weekend during the year.

Each division across Canada is invited to participate in jeans day. If they do, they contribute $5 to the charity fund. MaxSys President and founder Bryan Brulotte then matches each donation with another $5.

Recently Matt and Chaela with the Ottawa division of MaxSys visited Shepherds of Good Hope to make a donation from their jeans day event.

Thank you, Matt and Chaela, and to everyone who participated.

MaxSys

Today we had a surprise visit from Robert Kearney from MaxSys to spread some holiday cheer and present us with a cheque to help those we serve this holiday season!

Always great to have such thoughtful neighbours pop in!