BUILD UP CHILDREN IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Nowadays, more and more customers are looking to the values of a company before they spend their hard-earned money. Customers want to know that brands stand for something that is worthwhile, that the brand supports their community and that they are focused on more than just the bottom line. As one of the largest buying groups in the lumber and building supply industry, TIMBER MART has made it easy for their members to meet this need and give back to the communities their dealers call home. The company created their charitable foundation, Timberkids, with a focus on improving the health and well-being of Canadian children in the local communities where TIMBER MART members do business. Timberkids strives to support groups that are as inclusive as possible, benefit the most children and that make a grassroots difference in their communities. Over the last five years, Timberkids has donated over $1 million to Canadian children’s charities, which has positively impacted hundreds of TIMBER MART members’ causes and local communities.

Through Timberkids’ Dealer Donation Matching program, Timberkids matches a TIMBER MART dealer’s donation of up to $4,000 per year, per store towards a local registered children’s charity of their choice. Through members’ participation, they bring about the opportunity to market their own brand and connect with their communities where they do business.

“We have always been a strong supporter of local youth causes in our community and regularly use the Timberkids dealer matching program to make the biggest impact possible within our community,” says Travis Lutes, owner of Lutes TIMBER MART in Brooks, Alberta.

To add some fun to the mix, Timberkids hosts annual golf tournaments in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, as well as a fishing derby in Western Canada to bring TIMBER MART members and vendors together and raise funds for the foundation. Over the last five years, these events have brought together hundreds of dealers and vendors from across Canada and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.

“I’ve attended the Timberkids golf tournament in Atlantic Canada for many years and have seen the event prosper more each year with dealers and vendors,” says Brian Bowers, owner of Pleasant Supplies TIMBER MART in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and chair of the TIMBER MART national board. “It’s a great event that we look forward to attending every year, not only for the fun and camaraderie but also for the good it does – and continues to do – for children across the country.”

Adding to the already generous support, Timberkids will be launching the new Give Back To Local Day this summer. Participating marketing members of the group will have the opportunity to choose a day of their choice between June 1 and September 5 when they can donate a portion of their sales to a local children’s charity and have their funds matched by Timberkids, up to a maximum of $500 per store.

“With COVID measures limiting our ability to do physical fundraising events, we wanted to create another opportunity where dealers could do business and give back to their local communities at the same time,” says Phil Otto, chair of the Timberkids board. “The Timberkids Give Back To Local Day will do just that and we look forward to seeing them hosted throughout the summer months across Canada.”