The Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust was created to help people and make a difference – just like Olivia wanted to do with her life ♥ Join us on our mission!
Olivia’s Trust is collecting new and very gently used items to host our first “Free Market”. This event is being created to help selected struggling families this coming holiday season. We are providing items for all ages and genders so any items are welcome. (Donations can be accepted up to November 19, 2025.)
We are also asking for donations of gift wrap, bags, ribbons, bows, tags, tissue paper, etc. so we can send our families home with beautifully wrapped treasures for their loved ones.
Help us make the coming holiday season a little easier for some families who can use it the most ❤️
Please see the attached flyer for drop off locations or to arrange pick up of your generous donation.
It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year, but here we are and there are many, many families struggling to afford back-to-school supplies for their kids. This is where we, as a community can step up to help those that need it 😊
Once again we are partnering with Tim Halman’s office (MLA for Dartmouth East) to collect and distribute these much needed school supplies. Olivia’s Trust will be buying items that are most needed and sought after to fill any gaps in the donations.
If you are out and about shopping or picking up school supplies and have the means to add a few extra items, you can donate those items to us for distribution to those in need.
You can drop off donations to Tim’s office at 99 Main Street in Dartmouth or at Jym Line Glassware at 23 Venture Crescent in Elmsdale. If you are unable to travel to donate, reach out to us on Facebook or by email (dale@livstrust.com) or call 902-880-6848 and we can make arrangements for a volunteer to come pick up your donation.
Let’s make the 2025-2026 school year memorable for our kids in all the best ways possible 🙂
This is the time of year we excitedly put out a post announcing our upcoming annual Bowling Tournament and Silent Auction fundraiser. This event has always been held the Saturday after the May Victoria Day long weekend. While we have the alley booked for May 23rd, it is currently closed due the virus 🦠. We do not know if it will re-open by this date or what social distancing will look like at that time.
We will likely have to postpone or possibly cancel our event for the safety and well-being of our supporters. We are debating whether to run some of the components such as the ever popular Craft Beer, Wine and Spirit Board and a handmade quilt raffle. Stay tuned for updates.
Olivia’s Trust still plans to award a post-secondary scholarship to a student currently set to graduate from Prince Andrew High School in June 2020. Since schools are closed and we do not know when they will re-open, it may not be possible for students wishing to apply to get their applications in to Student Services by the May 15th deadline. Therefore, if you are a student or know of a student that will graduate this year and wish to apply for our scholarship, please send your essay along with 2 letters of recommendation directly to dale@livstrust.com for consideration.
Olivia’s Trust will soon be making donations to organizations in most need that meet our mandate. Once we have made our choices, another post will go out to let you know where your support is helping during these uncertain and challenging times.
Our Bowling Tournament and Silent Auction is just around the corner (May 28)!
If you or someone you know has a company with a product or service you would like to donate we would love to have it! No matter how big or small all would be greatly appreciated! Donations are starting to arrive. Let’s make the silent auction a huge success so we can help Olivia do what she wanted to do most – help others!!!
This gratitude post is all about how a community of family, friends and volunteers came together to create a most magical holiday event on November 22.
It all started the Fall of 2024 when we had the idea of holding a Free Market for families who may be struggling with the added expense the holidays can bring.
With nothing more than a vague idea, no venue and no other community involvement, we set out to make it happen! We first reached out to our friends and family to start setting aside new or nearly new items that we could offer to potential guests.
We then asked Tim Halman, MLA for Dartmouth East and Brad McGowan, MLA for Cole Harbour for their support – and they were all in! Next we had to find a venue. After many options turned out to not work for one reason or another, we were put in contact with a most wonderful gentleman named Patrick Donahoe at St. Luke’s Anglican Church. We met Patrick and discovered our goals for supporting the community aligned perfectly, so he offered the church hall. (He also got Giant Tiger and Superstore to donate cookies!) This turned our idea into an event!
Next we contacted Woodlawn High principal, Craig Campbell. He enlisted their guidance department, social workers and SchoolsPlus workers to create a list of families they felt would be receptive to an invitation. And off we went!
So, on Saturday as families nervously walked in with their invitation in hand, maybe a little skeptical at first, possibly apprehensive, we set to work to make sure they felt welcomed, respected and above all else, happy they took a chance to attend.
It was pure joy to all the volunteers who watched those same families go from nervous and apprehensive, to relaxed (some even dancing along to the Christmas music 🎶 ) as they shopped their way through the wide selection of items to choose from. They grabbed refreshments and treats, enjoyed the kids corner and face painting and on their way out we wrapped their treasures with love before sending them on their way to enjoy the rest of their day.
As you can see from this long post, none of this was possible without the help and commitment from so many others. From Tim, Lucie (and family), Emily, and Brad to Craig, Lara, Danita and Jillian, to Patrick and all our volunteers this weekend, Lilly, Teyah, Will, Georgia, Courtnee, Melanie, Aly, Jennifer, Danielle and Kelly and so many more that donated items – we are so grateful to each and every one of you for making this event so very special.
To honour and remember Olivia we invite you to participate in our annual Compassion and Kindness Celebrates Olivia Day!
Wherever you are in the world please join us by performing random acts of compassion and kindness in your community. Your act can be big or small – just remember Olivia while you do it and share her story when you can.
If you are looking for a way to participate but aren’t quite sure what to do, please consider donating to Olivia’s Trust to help us out with our Free Market initiative as your random act. You can reach out via our website, Facebook or email dale@livstrust.com.
Follow our Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust Facebook page for event updates 💜
What does over $1,000 worth of school supplies looks like? Check out the images below 👇
Each year the need grows and we recognize that. These supplies are all destined to reach kids in our community who will most benefit – and we couldn’t be happier to be able to provide this donation on behalf of Olivia’s Trust.
We are thrilled to announce our Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust Scholarship receipts for 2025 📜
Please join us in congratulating Eli Turner of Auburn Drive High School and Lana Cushing of Woodlawn High School as our award recipients.
Eli and Lana have demonstrated exceptional attributes that more than qualify them for the scholarships. They have made their schools and communities better for having them in it and making it a welcoming place for all others to be as well.
Congratulations Eli and Lana. Your future is so bright and we look forward to seeing you on the next leg of your journey 🎓
We hope you are as excited as we are to announce the date for our annual fundraising event! Mark you calendars for Saturday, May 24, 2025 😃
Follow our Facebook page for the event details and how to participate. If you have participated in the past or want to come out for the first time, this is a fun-filled event that brings everyone together to do all the things Olivia loved most – bowling, shopping and socializing 💜
Space may be limited to bowl, but you can still participate in the silent auction, 50/50, sale of Olivia’s Signature Tree items and bake table. Cash or e-transfer only, so bring your wallet and your generous spirit!
Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust family and volunteers wish you a very Happy New Year and all the best in 2025!
Thank you for your continued support over the last 10 years – none of this is possible without your donations, following our social media, coming to our events and sharing our work – we are beyond grateful.
We know 2025 will bring “great things!” We are already planning fundraising events and ways to give back to the community that Olivia would approve of 💜
Wishing a very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate 🎄 we hope you get to spend time with the ones you love and keep those missing in your hearts.
We are so grateful for the support of our family and friends – both old and new. You have this a memorable year and we thank each and every one of you.
Christmas may be tomorrow, but we are already planning for next year. So, if you happen to receive a gift you can’t use or are lucky enough to receive too much, consider donating your items to us for our Free Market event next December. We will be collecting items all year long and will provide more details in 2025
Our first ever online fundraising auction is live! Let’s make this a success by sharing and bidding generously. The auction will run until Sunday, December 1 at 7 pm.
There are over 100 great items up for grabs. This is a fantastic way to kickstart your holiday shopping. If you are the successful bidder it’s a win-win, you get your item and we get to continue to help Olivia do “great things!” like our recent $1,000.00 donation to the Santa’s for Seniors program 🎄
Click the link below to participate . (All details are under the AUCTION photo)
Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust 