Winter is Anthony Simas’s favourite season. But the 25-year-old says it hurts to see people with nothing out in the cold. So he has made it a yearly tradition to do something for others. He calls it his Holiday Giveback.
On Dec. 21, Simas will head to the homeless shelters in downtown Toronto with a team of volunteers to distribute care packages that they have assembled. The bags will include essential supplies, items like winter hats and gloves, hand sanitizer, a medical mask, and personal hygiene products for men and women.
“Through Givingback, not only do I get to help others, but I also get to brighten the holidays for those that don’t have much,” Simas says. “I want to do things bigger and better, and I really enjoy helping people.”
That is why this year he is calling on his family, friends, and social media followers to make this Giveback the biggest one yet. Simas has organized a GoFundMe account, for people to solicit donations. “This is the only way we can give back on the largest scale possible, is with the support of other people,” Simas says.
“For every $10 donated to our fundraiser, a care package will be created and hand delivered to those in need this holiday season. We’re aiming to make 300 bags this year,” Simas says.
He started doing this four years ago when he said he realized homelessness is a critical issue in Toronto that had been going on far too long. According to social service charity, Fred Victor, there are over 10, 000 homeless people sleeping outdoors, in shelter and emergency centres every night.
Simas believes for there to be a change in this world, you have to start with yourself. When he started the Giveback, he was able to create and distribute 15 care packages, waters and coffees in December. “After the first time, I really enjoyed it and people were so appreciative so I decided to make it tradition to give back every year,” Simas said.
The Holiday Giveback flyer organized by Anthony Simas.
Simas and his videographer, Marcel Mazzuca, have been working together for just over six years. Mazzuca says they help each other grow and inspire each other to be better people. “I’ve been by his side throughout his journey for all of his motivational speeches and give backs,” said Mazzuca. “He is the most selfless person I know. I’ve worked with many businesses and have created content for them, but when I work with Anthony, he is genuine in all his actions.”
Simas is a spinal cord injury survivor. Seven years ago, he suffered a swimming incident, damaging the C5 level of his vertebrae, which changed his life forever. He is technically a quadroplegic, paralyzed from below the neck, but still has some function in his upper body.
“I used to be a boxer and electrician. Today I work in finance and am an ambassador for spinal cord injury survivors,” Simas says. “I do motivational speeches at schools, a lot of social media activity.”
Simas is the oldest of four kids in what he calls a big, loving family. He says he does his best to lead his brothers and sister in the right direction, and does what he can to be an inspirational role model to them. “He cares alot about others even though he doesn’t know them. Anthony shows me how to be a better person and I cannot wait to come help distribute the care packages,” says his sixteen-year-old sister, Sabrina Simas.