Fourth year of ’12 Days of Giving’ wraps up in Tantramar, reaching $50,000 milestone
Tuesday marked the end of the fourth now-annual ‘12 Days of Giving’ Holiday campaign. It’s an initiative that, as of yesterday, is celebrating 48 donations over four years, and a total of $50,000 given to date.
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The money is donated to local organizations like food banks, schools, youth programs, seniors’ services, and animal shelters.
Unlike corporate donation drives, these funds come from local realtor Jamie Smith through thatjamieguy.ca
Acknowledged as a marketing campaign by Smith himself, it is far from low cost exposure. These ad dollars aren’t being put towards digital marketing campaigns and billboards, they’re being put into the community of Tantramar.
I spoke with Smith and asked him why and how this all started four years ago.
“I was looking for a way to support the community that supports me. I get to do what I love because of this community, so giving back felt like a responsibility.”
What began as a small idea has now grown into an annual campaign that Smith says he can’t imagine stopping.
“At the start, I was pretty naive. I didn’t think it was going to become a four-year thing. But every year is a learning process for me.”
Visual story telling adds depth in Year Four
For this year’s mission, Smith worked with Rich Vibes Media out of Amherst. He says the addition of video documentation of the giveaway changed the way he executed, learned and presented the initiative through this year’s giving, allowing him to spend more time inside each organization to better understand the work being done.
Smith says working with videographer Isaiah Richardson allowed the campaign to go deeper than in previous years.
“The biggest difference this year was adding the video component,” he said. “It added a whole other layer and let us really dive into what these groups are actually doing.”
The videos capture both light-hearted moments, like Smith learning to skate with Sackville Minor Hockey or trying to play the recorder at a local elementary school, and more serious conversations around food security and access to services.
Choosing where to give
Smith says part of the fun is choosing which organizations to feature, which is largely personal. However, some places of giving are mandatory, according to him, like schools and the food bank.
“The food bank is always the first one. That’s such a basic need, and there’s always need there. I always go to the principals at local schools and ask them directly where the need is, instead of me deciding.”
Throughout the campaign, Smith makes a point of sharing specific ways people can help, whether that’s donating, volunteering or dropping off supplies.
But he’s quick to downplay his own role.
“I get to show up with the cheque and have the fun. But they’re doing the work all year long. There’s so much quiet, impactful work happening that people don’t see.”
The 12 organizations featured in year 4
- Sackville Food Bank
- Sackville Minor Hockey
- Port Elgin Regional School
- Dorchester Consolidated School
- Tantramar Community Association (Christmas Cheer)
- 2nd Sackville Girl Guides
- PEDVAC – Port Elgin & District Volunteer Action Committee
- Marshview Middle School (Tech & Skilled Trades Program)
- Nursing Homes Without Walls – Strait Shores
- Salem Elementary School (Music Program)
- Tantramar Regional High School (Food for Thought Program & Titan Pantry)
- Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter
A growing level of need
On other days, Smith says he faced some of the more sobering realities of need in the community. After four years, Smith says the biggest thing he’s learned isn’t tied to one moment or story, but to the scale of need across the community.
“The level of need is overwhelming. In a community that seems well off on the surface, there’s a huge amount of deep need that people don’t see.” he said, “So when you meet with some of these groups, it does take your breath away a little bit of how much need there actually is in a seemingly well off community. There’s just such a wide array of deep need that a lot of people aren’t aware of.”
He says that need has only grown in recent years.
When asked if the Tantramar community could look forward to a 5th anniversary year of giving from Jamie Smith of thatjamieguy.ca, the answer was a smile, nod and a definite “yes.”
