With families still struggling from the pandemic, St. Albert charities are doing more this year to make sure young people can still celebrate Christmas with a gift to unwrap.
The Salvation Army in St. Albert is looking for more donations to fill their annual toy “store” before Christmas, a place where people who can’t afford presents can go and “shop” for gifts for their family.
Volunteer Carmen McElroy said almost 400 families have already come through the free store's doors.
“I hear that a lot of people are recovering from COVID still. There's a lot of starving families out there. It's scary,” McElroy said.
Parents come in by appointment to the Christmas Toystore at the Salvation Army, where they are given a shopping cart and told they can pick out what they like from the gifts sorted in the gymnasium.
Being able to pick out Christmas presents without a financial burden makes the experience an emotional one for families in need, McElroy said.
“I can tell you there’s lots of tears,” she said. “That’s what’s most important, that the kids feel that they’re taken care of.”
Thirteen local businesses have stepped up to help gather gifts for the free store this year, including St. Albert Dodge, St. Albert Honda, Riverside Honda, she said.
“Their efforts have been unbelievable. We would not be doing this without them.”
The Salvation Army is still looking for donations before the store closes on Dec. 23 to make sure families in need have plenty to choose from.
People looking to help can drop off gifts at any of the partnered locations or to the Salvation Army at 165 Liberton Drive.
Bringing Christmas to kids
Every year, KDM Helping Hands picks a local school to bring the magic of Christmas for the entire day.
Volunteers package the curated boxes full of essential items, like toothbrushes and mittens, and gifts to surprise young students, complete with lunch and a visit from Santa.
But the charity knew more families would be struggling this holiday season than previous years, said Rosanna Fischer, charity vice-president.
She said they decided to organize Christmas gifts for more than one location, despite the charity’s own donations being down by two-thirds this year.
“We only usually do one school but our hearts told us to do more,” Fischer said.
“It’s such difficult times, especially at the grocery stores when you see a head of lettuce going for eight dollars. It’s visible in anything and everything that we do.”
Volunteers visited École Father Jan Community School on Dec. 2, where they brought students a hot lunch and bags full of gifts. Days later on Dec. 5, KDM Helping Hands went to Holy Family Catholic Church to join them for their assembly, bring them bins of presents too.
The big Christmas event was organized on Dec. 9 for École Beau Meadow School where volunteers packed Christmas boxes for 485 students, the charity’s largest school to date.
Students were treated to a McDonald’s lunch in the gymnasium, and when they break for recess, the KDM team sets the stage for entertainment and a visit from Santa. Once Santa finishes a countdown, students unveil the gift boxes.
“The screams in the gym just fill my heart. It’s amazing,” Fischer said.
“You're giving them that excitement, and then they see what the Christmas spirit is. It’s better to give than to receive.”
