Every child will get a Christmas gift
RON AND JOYCE SAKAMOTO DONATE $10,000 TO ANGEL TREE CAMPAIGN
If Ron and Joyce Sakamoto have a say in the matter, every child will have a Christmas gift under their tree this coming Monday morning.
On Sunday, the Sakamotos were at home and saw a post on Facebook of their eight-year-old granddaughter Lexi at Lethbridge Family Services helping wrap gifts for the Angel Tree Christmas Campaign, now in its 25th year.
Then they saw another social media post from LFS saying there were still 300 children in need of a gift on Christmas morning, due largely to a 30 per cent drop in campaign donations so far this holiday season.
So, the Sakamotos responded by calling Michelle Gallucci at LFS to donate $10,000.
“I can’t imagine a child waking up on Christmas morning to nothing,” Ron Sakamoto said on the phone Monday morning.
“So my wife and I said ‘let’s try and help.’ We hope we can get enough dollars raised, along with the help of the community of Lethbridge so that all 300 children can have a gift on Christmas morning. I know there is not much time but I have great faith in our community that we can fill the need for all 300 children.”
“I was just sitting there looking at our empty shelves wondering how we were going to do it,” said Gallucci, director of advancement and communications with Lethbridge Family Services.
“Ron called and said that he (and Joyce) wanted to give a $10,000 donation — and I couldn’t believe it. That’s a lot of money. It’s like a miracle, honestly.”
On Monday afternoon, Gallucci was out purchasing gifts. A team of volunteers then went on a wrapping blitz later in the evening.
Sakamoto said he and his wife decided to donate the first $10,000 on behalf of their family, as well as Johnny Reid, the managers of Paradise Canyon, Sonny and Kim Nakashima and Brian Hancock, publisher of The Lethbridge Herald. Another donation came from Ken Wagner and family from Calgary.
Because of that potential ripple effect, Gallucci said they will be able to buy enough gifts to meet the need.
“We wanted every child to get a gift,” she said. “We will hit our target. I’m confident we’ll be able to give the last 300 gifts.”
Prime Rentals also donated $1,000 and has challenged other companies.
Gifts and donations will be collected until Wednesday. They will be sorted, wrapped and delivered to homes in time for Christmas morning.
1st Choice Savings will be accepting new toys and cash donations at their branches. Those wanting to contribute can also contact LFS at: www.lfs.family.ca and click on the “donate now” button on the home page and then choose Angel Tree, by calling 403327-5724, or in person at 1107 2A Ave. N.