Simple gifts a ‘joy for the kids’
Hats, mitts and books go a long way to helping families with Native Child agency
This year, Jessica Wilson of Native Child and Family Services fears the need will be so great for the Star Santa Fund boxes that she will not have enough for all the children who need a gift under the tree.
“Every year we have the same families signing up for it. They rely on it. We always have more families than we can register,” said Wilson, who has been working with the Santa Fund since 2009.
Hats, mitts, scarves, books and treats. It might not sound like much but for a family in need, the brightly coloured Star boxes are relied on to bring “comfort and joy for the kids,” she said.
Wilson said in years past, between 50 to 60 families get the boxes and 75 kids a year have been helped.
Native Child was founded in 1986 by members of the indigenous community in Toronto who were concerned with both the high number of kids in the care of Children’s Aid Societies and the issues confronting aboriginal families such as poverty, addictions, homelessness and domestic violence.
“Most of our kids come from singlefamily homes. In the aboriginal culture we have a lot of families that have extended families; parents aren’t in the position to care, so we are leaning more towards kinship and grandparents looking after grandchildren. They need more support,” Wilson said from the agency’s College St. offices.
Some parents save the boxes for Christmas, and pretend Santa is the one who dropped off the gift under the tree. Other parents use the contents of the box right away because their kids need those mitts and hats. “That stuff isn’t as accessible all the time for families and some kids lose their mitts,” she says.
“It is a fair-sized box. The kids love it because it is a gift just for them. Parents use the boxes as keepsakes,” she adds.
“Christmas is such a hard time of year. Being able to offer another piece of support helps. When we first started it, I didn’t think we’d get the feedback we got but the families are so grateful. It’s heartwarming, it lets us know we are doing a good thing,” she says.
Lorianne, a mom of four young children ages 9, 7, 5 and 2, remembers getting the Santa box when she was a child and sneaking into them before Christmas Day.
“I got the boxes when I was a kid. They were great. I used to take the candy out — the sour keys and Hot Tamales — before Christmas,” she said with a laugh.
“This means a lot, especially for low-income families,” she said add- ing Christmas is a difficult time for year for her. “They ask for things and you just can’t give them,” she said.
This year, all the rage at her children’s school are iPads. Those expensive gifts are out of reach for Lorianne.
But thanks to Star readers, a Santa box will be under the tree for Lorianne’s kids. If you have been touched by the Santa Claus Fund or have a story to tell, please email santaclausfund@thestar.ca.