Story by Carly Reuter | Director of Community Engagement, JoeAnna’s House​

After two years of JoeAnna’s House Winter Wonderland, a beloved community celebration that brought joy and impact to our holiday season, the time came to reimagine the event. As the team began to envision what this new holiday celebration could look like, one question kept coming up: How can JoeAnna’s House give back to the community that gives so much to our families every single day? 

From that question, the Winter Wonderland Wish list was born. Instead of one big event, we created a month-long celebration inviting the community to support local businesses while also supporting JoeAnna’s House. The idea was simple and fun: shop, sip, dine, move and celebrate locally—and a portion of sales would provide support for families facing some of life’s hardest days.

What made the Wish list especially meaningful was how naturally it fit into people’s lives. By grabbing coffee with a friend, trying a workout class, or picking up a cozy gift, generosity was simply woven into everyday routines. 

And then came the storytelling, which might have been my favourite part. With the help of our incredible local business partners, and UNDRDOG Media, we brought the Wish list to life through fun Instagram videos. Appearances included KGH Foundation faces like Georgia as “cozy girl”, Darwisy as “serious young professional”, Mr. Green (the Okanagan Grinch), and even my husband Darryl Reuter as “Buddy the Elf.” Each video reflected the unique spirit of the business involved, while sharing a bigger story about showing up for one another.