A Canadian supplier wants to make sure those who served in the armed forces aren’t forgotten.

Ottawa-based PowerStick.com (asi/51566) has spent nearly two years distributing branded therapeutic items – 800 of its PetitPops (4139) and 200 of its 120-piece (4135) and 200-piece (4184) jigsaw puzzles – to Perley Health, home to many Canadian World War II veterans.

PowerStick has distributed 800 PetitPops to guests and staff at Perley Health in Ottawa, home to seniors and elderly military veterans.

The relationship with Perley began in 2015, when Nigel Harris, CEO of PowerStick, first volunteered there to simply spend time with the “guests,” as the facility calls them, as a friendly companion. After volunteer training, Harris, who spent his early childhood in post-war Britain, was assigned six World War II veterans to visit regularly – two men from Canada’s Navy, two from the Air Force and two from the Army.

“It was an incredible experience for me and totally opened my world to the joys of giving back,” says Harris. “Each of them had a whole internal library of stories that they were happy to share. They talked about fear, loneliness and not knowing if their far-off loved ones would know whether they were alive in POW camps or dead in some far-off land.”

Guests and staff have also received 200 puzzles for therapy and recreation.

As time went on, Harris noted that many of the veterans spent time in the facility’s Ozerdinc Grimes Family Therapeutic Recreation and Creative Arts Program, where they could take classes in writing, drawing and painting. It got Harris thinking – how could his company also help?

He approached Perley leadership and after discussions about what was needed, came up with two solutions: PetitPop silicone bubble keychains and jigsaw puzzles with a picture of a veteran saluting flags on Remembrance Day. Both items are meant to help relieve boredom and tension, and have been distributed since early 2022 to residents and staff.

“I wanted to give back to an organization that had given me such a meaningful experience,” says Harris. “It’s allowed us to do something that enhances our appreciation for our deserving veterans and that our entire company rallied around as a feel-good project.”

Guests at Perley have expressed appreciation to Harris and PowerStick for the donations. “They’re a reminder that our service is appreciated and valued,” says Roland Lalonde, a 100-year-old retired Warrant Officer who served in World War II and an artist since the 1970s. “PowerStick’s commitment to giving back to the community is truly commendable, and we are incredibly grateful to be the recipients of their kindness.”

Last year, the supplier announced it had planted 10,000 trees across North America through its partnership with One Tree Planted. The company was also named a 2022 Counselor Best Place to Work.