A drive to help
‘Everyone can wake up Christmas morning knowing kids are smiling’
A room in the Westbank Lions Community Centre was transformed into a magical Christmas toy store last week where parents, grandparents and guardians who registered with the Westside Salvation Army could shop for new toys for their children for free, thanks to the generosity of our community who were determined not to let COVID-19 steal Christmas.
“Everyone can wake up Christmas morning knowing kids are smiling,” said Lenetta Parry with the Salvation Army.
Under COVID-19 restrictions, two parents could come through every half hour by appointment to select about $100 in toys for each child, pick up a stocking, a board game for the family, batteries if necessary and then a gift bag and wrapping paper to wrap up the presents at home.
The gift cards for teens and toys were donated by the community.
“The generosity of the community was directly able to ensure that we have the gifts and toys we were able to purchase to give out this week,” said Parry.
Local businesses such as the Mad Hatter Bookstore, Gormans and Neighbours Pub ran successful community toy drives for the program.
Some items were bought with money raised through events such as the recent Rotary’s Rudolf Dine Out Day, which asked people to add $5 for the Westside Salvation Army to their tab at participating restaurants.
In its inaugural year, the event raised $22,000 for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Gifts of Hope program.
“This community has my heart,” said Jennifer Henson with the Westside Salvation Army. “This is physical evidence that we’re in this together. Every parent, grandparent or guardian is able to come in here and pick things off the shelf that another community member has put on.”
Dine Out Day also helped local restaurants.
Brad Shave at Kelly O’Bryan’s on the Westside said Dine Out Day had been busy. With the latest provincial health orders, Shave said business had slowed right down recently.
Over at Il Mercato Social Kitchen, owner Trevor Jones noticed diners who came out specifically for Dine Out Day.
His regular customers donated as well, once they knew about the fundraiser.
This is the first year the Westside Salvation Army has held its own toy store rather than having parents go over to Kelowna.
Melissa, who has been a single parent for 12 years, was shopping at the Westside Salvation Army’s toy store last Tuesday morning. Throughout the pandemic and even before, she has accessed the resources in the community.
“The rental market in this community keeps rising and it’s difficult,” she said. “Without the help of the Salvation Army and the food bank it would be impossible to have a good Christmas.”
Vanessa was shopping for the five children, three grandchildren and two nephews living with her.
“It’s a wonderful feeling knowing there will be gifts,” she said. “It helps out tremendously.”
Without the help of the Salvation Army, the holidays would be a struggle for Vanessa and her family. Being able to pick out toys at the toy store frees up money for things like food.
Parry said the Salvation Army and their volunteers were expecting to serve about 100 families and 300 children before Christmas. “It’s not too late to donate,” Parry said. Stutters DKI, is hosting a drive thru toy drive Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at their new West Kelowna location at 2565 Main St., the former Greyhound station.
People can make a donation online at westsidesa.ca.