Team TFS Toothbrush Drive to Benefit Project Winter Survival Is On!

This holiday season Toronto Film School students from all three campuses are banding together in an effort to raise 3,000 toothbrushes for charity.

Events are planned at each of the Toronto Film School campuses to raise money and toothbrushes for donation to Project Winter Survival.

Project Winter Survival, one of two major campaigns by the not-for-profit group Engage and Change, is dedicated to providing the homeless and less fortunate with survival kits, which in turn provide warmth and essential supplies needed for survival on the streets during the winter season.

The goal this year is to distribute at least 3,000 kits and that means at least 3,000 toothbrushes are needed for those kits. Toronto Film School has committed to raising the 3,000 toothbrushes through a series of events.

The Campus Council at  Toronto Film School’s Steeles Campus had planned a fun filled day of video game tournaments and a bake sale. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17. Participants will pay $1 to enter the League of Legends, Super Smash or Mario Kart tournaments or $2 to enter the Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat or Skull Girls and More tournaments. Also, during the tournament, there will be baked goods for sale, with all proceeds going towards the toothbrush drive.

The Campus Council at Davisville will host a big bake sale on Wednesday, Dec. 9 beginning at 9 a.m. in the reception area.

UPDATE: A second bake sale has been planned for Tuesday, Dec. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the reception area.  All proceeds from the sale will be donated to Engage and Change and Project Winter Survival.

At the Dundas Campus, the Campus Council is hosting a Toothbrush Drive. A box has been placed at reception and students and staff are asked to bring individually wrapped toothbrushes in and place them in the box. The toothbrush drive at Dundas will run until Dec. 17.

All of the money raised will go towards the purchase of toothbrushes, which Engage and Change can purchase for about 35 cents a piece. Toronto Film School’s goal is to, collectively between campuses, raise the equivalent of 3,000 toothbrushes.

Founded by Jody Steinhauer, an alumna of the Marketing for Fashion and Entertainment Diploma program now offered through the Toronto Film School, Engage and Change has, in the past 15 years, assembled more than 21,000 Winter Survival Kits containing life saving supplies.

Kits include things like sleeping bags, winter hats, gloves, socks, toiletries, snacks, water and more.

These survival kits are assembled by teams of volunteers at a fun-filled event in January. Once these kits are packed, they are distributed to over 150 front-line agencies, including the Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Covenant House, local shelters, and outreach programs in the Greater Toronto Area who then distribute them directly to the homeless.

Find out more about Engage and Change here.