Shannon MacLeod at The Bargain Store says this year鈥檚 Carlyle and Area Toy Drive may be the most challenging one yet.
鈥淭his is the 4th year that CFY has partnered with The Bargain! Shop and other area businesses and it seems that the need is growing,鈥� says MacLeod. 鈥淲hen economic conditions are challenging, families really feel the effects.
鈥淭he need is an ongoing thing and we don鈥檛 want anyone to be left out at Christmas, especially if they鈥檝e already had a hard year.鈥�
Macleod adds that The Bargain! Shop has upped their fundraising game with a special event planned for Saturday, Dec. 8, with details to come later.
鈥淚 think this will be the year with the most need ever and it鈥檚 a real local effort,鈥� says MacLeod. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our fourth year and we want to provide a little bit of Christmas to families from throughout this southeast corner of Saskatchewan.鈥�
The Toy Drive aims to provide a gift from Santa to each young recipient.
鈥淲e gladly and gratefully accept donations of unwrapped gifts or cash donations that will allow us to give a little Christmas to boys and girls from birth to age 17,鈥� says MacLeod. 鈥淭he age group we usually get the most gifts donated to are for children from three to five years of age.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e been asked for suggestions for gift ideas for pre-teens and teens and it can be as simple as hygiene stuff, such as shampoo, combs and brushes. Mittens and sweaters are good and so are gift cards, if you鈥檙e unsure about a size or what to buy.鈥�
鈥淟ast year, we provided gifts for kids from the southeast corner of Saskatchewan, including Carlyle, Arcola, White Bear, Kenosee, Kisbey, Ochapowace, Redvers, Alida, Alameda, Oxbow, Manor, Lampman, Kennedy and Wawota,鈥� says MacLeod.听
鈥淥ur application deadline to receive a guaranteed gift is Saturday, Dec. 8,鈥� adds MacLeod. 鈥淏ut we鈥檒l do our very best if someone鈥檚 left out.鈥�
鈥淲e make it work,鈥� she smiles.
MacLeod stresses that the application process is confidential. 鈥淲e ask that people apply through organizations such as their church, band office, school, local family centre or other participating organization.鈥�
鈥淭he organization can email [email protected] if they prefer, get in touch with Shannon MacLeod at The Bargain! Shop in Carlyle.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 handled entirely through the organization,鈥� explains MacLeod. 鈥淭hey deliver the gifts to the families; we don鈥檛. It鈥檚 all private and confidential. And the organization involved just has to commit to delivering the gifts to their recipient between Dec. 20-22.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really hard thing for people to ask for help, especially at Christmastime,鈥� says MacLeod. 鈥淪o I really want to stress to people that their privacy will be respected.鈥�
MacLeod says that donors have been both generous and creative. 鈥淪o far, the 麻豆视频ern Plains Co-op grocery store, the Carlyle RBC, The Bargain! Shop in Carlyle and the Bear Claw Casino are on board to accept donations of new unwrapped gifts or cash donations. In the past, some companies have made a contribution to us in lieu of sending out Christmas cards.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檒l be holding our final Wrap Party later in December and people can volunteer to help us out there, too,鈥� she adds.
麻豆视频ern Plains Co-op manager Chris Kelloway says his staff and customers are 鈥渉appy to help鈥�,
As are the staff at Bear Claw Casino.
MacLeod agrees, adding: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real community effort and it鈥檚 all about the kids. We鈥檝e had people come in the store who have donated 50 cents every time they come in and it all adds up. Whether people donate 50 cents or fifty dollars, they are giving from their heart and helping their neighbour, which is what Christmas is all about. We鈥檙e all neighbours, after all.鈥�
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