Otto’s Ottawa has stepped up to the call to support frontline workers across the city.
“In the face of these challenging times, it’s more important than ever for us to come together as a community,” said Sonia Koller, the Dealer Principal for Otto’s Ottawa.
“As a family-owned organization, we’ve taken tremendous pride in providing a helping hand to those in need, and to those who work tirelessly to keep us safe. Because we truly are stronger together.”
The dealership has donated $6,600 to Meals for Hope, which has provided over 850 meals to vulnerable low-income families in Ottawa.
Additionally, Otto’s has used their own resources to put together over 1,200 gift bags for hospitals and frontline workers.
“Thank you so much to your company for such a thoughtful treat!! Sincerely from the ICU staff,” said hospital members in an email.
The care packages had high-quality PPE safety glasses, a Subaru or BMW purse hanger to aid with germ control, an Otto’s bag of Lindt chocolate, several packages of Otto’s Café baked goods prepared by the Subaru Cafe Pastry Chef, and topped off with an Otto’s Ottawa ‘Thank you for your service’ card.
The food items were all individually wrapped by gloved and masked volunteers, and sealed for safety in multiple coloured gift bags with rainbow-themed stickers.
462 gift bags were delivered to the Ottawa Civic Hospital for the Emergency, ICU, and COVID Ward staff, which is the largest in Ottawa.
“Please see this lovely message of thanks from one of the Civic Emergency Department nurses – she told me she was so touched, she almost cried. I had to share this message with you,” said an unidentified nurse over text.
133 bags were delivered to the Montfort French Hospital Emergency Ward staff.
108 bags were delivered to the Centre de Santé et de Services Sociaux de Gatineau and two Gatineau Covid-19 Testing Centre staff and local paramedics.
250 gift bags were delivered to the General Hospital COVID and Emergency Ward Staff.
70 gift bags were delivered to the semi-rural Almonte General Hospital Emergency, COVID/ICU, Maternity, and Long-Term care ward staff. Almonte has recently seen the largest cases of COVID-19 deaths in Ontario, which affected a specific long-term care home.
Otto’s final delivery was 250 gift bags to the Ottawa Queensway Carleton Hospital which distributed them to their Emergency, ICU, and COVID wards.
“Kindness like yours is a wonderful reminder of the supportive community that we work hard to protect and treat on a daily basis. What a wonderful surprise we had waiting for us yesterday before the beginning of our twelve-hour shift,” said one nurse.
In total, Otto’s delivered 1,273 individually packaged healthcare worker care package deliveries.
