York Regional Police raises much needed funds to support victims in our region

HELPING HANDS LIFT UP our COMMUNITY

York Regional Police is dedicated to supporting those who are most vulnerable in our community. Our organization’s charitable activities are extensive, but there are two initiatives that have been integral to supporting victims of crime. Our Holiday Heroes charity drive and our Police Appreciation Night awards ceremony are channels to raise funds for trusted community partners who provide support for those who in need.

HEROES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Running from mid-November to mid-December, the Holiday Heroes campaign collects new toys, clothing, food, cash and gift cards for York Region families that have been the victims of crime or tragic circumstances and need a helping hand. The campaign is YRP’s largest fundraiser and 2023 was the most successful year ever, raising $1 million in donations.

Running for 27 years, the campaign partners with organizations like Victim Services of York Region, the York Region Centre for Community Safety (YRCCS), the Salvation Army and local food banks to ensure that the collected resources reach the families needing support.  

Families sponsored through the Holiday Heroes programs are selected by Victims Services of York Region and the YRCCS. Victim Services is a charity that works in partnership with YRP, Ontario Provincial Police and Central York Fire Services to provide 24-hour emotional and practical support to victims of crime or tragic circumstances, while the YRCCS supports survivors of intimate partner violence. Each year, they select families most in need of a financial lift to benefit from Holiday Heroes.

“When these families are identified through Victims Services or the YRCCS, our goal is to provide them with a significant donation to change their lives for the next year,” said Carrie Rutledge, supervisor of the Special Events Unit, which runs the campaign.

“So, they can save up what they can, without having to worry about basic expenses for the next little while, allowing them to get their feet underneath them and get into a better financial position.”

Holiday Heroes volunteers from across YRP, the York Regional Police Association and the community attend events at stores and malls across York Region, soliciting donations from the public and collecting goods.

“Working with our volunteers, corporate sponsors and the York Regional Police Association, we are committed every year to making the holidays brighter for as many as we can in York Region,” Rutledge said.

$1 MILLION

in donations collected by the Holiday Heroes program in 2023

ALTRUISTIC AWARDS

Police Appreciation Night (PAN) is an annual awards gala where YRP units and individual sworn and civilian members are recognized for investigative and operational excellence, bravery in the line of duty and service to our community.

It is a tradition that was started 30 years ago by a group of community leaders who wanted to highlight the exemplary work done by our service.

“It is quite hard to put into words how much YRP’s financial support impacts the lives of those we help.”

Gillian Freeman, Executive Director of Victim Services of York Region

The evening is a chance to celebrate the valued partnerships we have with these community leaders and organizations, in addition to celebrating the accomplishments of our extraordinary members.

New to the 2023 gala was a focus on supporting victims of crime. Victim Services of York Region was the beneficiary of $491,000 in funds raised through the event.

Victim Services is heavily integrated with YRP, assisting victims as soon as they’ve had an interaction with police, meeting them at their home, a hospital, police station or other settings to assist with cases involving sexual assault, intimate partner violence, suicide, traffic fatalities and other tragic circumstances. Roughly 90 per cent of the organization’s referrals come from YRP.

“It makes a difference to these individuals when they don’t have to seek out supports, the supports are seeking them out,” said Gillian Freeman, Executive Director of Victim Services of York Region. “People after an incident can barely think. We want to make everything seamless.”

“When looking for a charity to support through PAN, it was an easy decision to help Victim Services bolster their resources and offer more support and programing,” Rutledge said.

Victim Services provides on-scene crisis intervention, telephone crisis support, financial assistance, bereavement support and essentials care packages for winter and back-to-school.

“It is quite hard to put into words how much YRP’s financial support impacts the lives of those we help,” Freeman said. “Those funds allow us to increase service delivery, enhance service delivery and continue programs that are essential for survivors – without it we wouldn’t exist.”

The 2023 event honoured the critical work done by Victim Services, in addition to the York Region Centre for Community Safety, in their mission to assist victims of intimate partner violence.

“As a police service, we enter situations as they are happening and deal with people during the worst days of their lives,” Rutledge said. “These organizations then step in and help people cope with the impact of crime and tragedy.”

114%

increase in on-scene occurrences requiring Victim Services of York Region from 2022 to 2023