Innisfil’s Christmas for Kids charity kicked off its 2022 toy drive with the Town of Innisfil on Tuesday.
Knowing Christmas can be a tough time for families financially, every year Christmas for Kids steps up to help by providing them with a turkey, a gift certificate to buy perishables for Christmas Dinner, enough food for the holiday season, and a gift for each child.
“We’ve been busy all year because we’ve had a big increase in the demand for our programs and we’re excited to be doing Christmas,” said Myrlene Boken, Christmas for Kids president. “It’s a fun project and we get everyone’s Christmas lists and it’s so much fun to make their little dreams come true.”
The goal is to help provide those families who can’t afford a gift for their child with one that gears towards the child’s interests.
“We want to help take pressure off the families that are dealing with difficulties,” said Boken. “They can’t afford to feed their families; some families have to take turns eating because they don’t have food for everybody.
"It’s just been very difficult and with kids getting sick, parents can’t work, and they don’t get paid if they don’t work. It’s been hard for them, and this is a nice fun diversion for all of us to bring some happiness to everybody.”
This year, to make the process even easier, Christmas for Kids has linked the 'Santa Wishlist' to the website to ensure each child gets what they really want.
“They can go in and purchase a gift on Amazon that one of our children is asking for and it will be delivered to our head office,” said Boken. “That’s new this year because often people want to buy something that a child is asking for and it’s really great.
"We don’t want to give them arbitrary stuff, we want to give them something they’re interested in. It makes it more meaningful for them and helps promote their interests.”
Having both the Town of Innisfil and the community backing them has been imperative to Christmas for Kids becoming what it is today: a support for any and every family in need during the holiday season.
“We get a lot of community support and that is absolutely key because in order to be successful we need donations and having the town support us gives us credibility in the town, so people know that we’re a credible charity,” Boken said. “The town also gives us a space for storage, and a space to distribute our goods from—they give us the Stroud Arena for 10 days. Having the town support us is very important and they’ve hugely supported us the last eight years.”
Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin said the town is “absolutely thrilled” to have a community staple like Christmas for Kids to help support those who are struggling.
“They’re relentless in their help of the community, and Christmas of course is the big push, but all year round they’re working with families for school backpacks, or if a child’s been invited to a birthday party and doesn’t have a gift, they help out with that,” said Dollin. “It started out with Christmas for Kids but now it’s really all year round and I’m just absolutely amazed at the dedication of these people.
"They work so tremendously hard at a time that’s usually so hectic and busy, yet they still manage to put in all those extra hours for the community.”
It comes as no surprise to Dollin to see the residents of Innisfil step up each and every year with Christmas for Kids.
“We know we live in a really giving and caring community,” said Dollin. “Neighbours help out neighbours and we see it with the Troy Scott Community Fridge, and we see it again every year with Christmas for Kids.”
Those who want to support Christmas for Kids can donate here.
Aldo, donations can be dropped off at Innisfil Town Hall (2101 Innisfil Beach Rd.) or at the following locations:
- A Taste of Europe (1335 Killarney Beach Rd.)
- Cookstown Antique Market (5108 Simcoe County Rd. 27)
- Innisfil ideaLAB & Library, Stroud branch (7883 Yonge St.)
- Johnny Burger (847 Innisfil Beach Rd.)
- Lefroy-Belle Ewart Legion Branch 547 (1017 Robinson St.)
- Mad Hatter’s Table (3A King St. S.)
- Miss Jennie’s Performing Arts Studio (847 Innisfil Beach Rd.)
- Odette Novielli Desjardins Insurance (8056 Yonge St.)
- RBC Royal Bank (1501 Innisfil Beach Rd.)
- Sunset Grill (1472 Innisfil Beach Rd.)
- Tim Hortons (2098 Commerce Park Dr.)
- The Cove Cafe (902 Lockhart Rd.)
