Fund helps keep spirit of ‘Navidad’ alive
Gift boxes ease homesickness for Colombian immigrants
Angelica Gomez wants to give her children the same kind of warm Christmas memories she made in Colombia.
She’s happy that she and her husband moved the family to Toronto two years ago in search of better opportunities for her children. But she also gets a little homesick for the holiday traditions of her native country.
In Colombia, children write letters to the baby Jesus and put them into a nativity crèche. Then, legend has it, baby Jesus takes the letters to learn which presents to deliver to their bedrooms.
“It’s a little different because in my country, we celebrate on the 24th at night. We eat and open the gifts, listen to music and dance,” said the mother of three.
Gomez was a registered nurse in Colombia and her husband, Eduar Velasquez, was a lawyer. But in Canada they are not working. They’re focusing on ESL studies to upgrade their degrees to meet Canadian standards.
It’s been challenging to keep the spirit of “Navidad” alive because of the family’s limited budget and with few familiar faces and family members around.
That’s why Gomez is so grateful that the Santa Claus Fund stepped in the first year they arrived to give her now 6-year-old son a package of clothes, candy, a toy and a book.
“My oldest son, he’s so, so happy when it comes,” she said.
He remembers the present so well that he recognized the logo of the Toronto Star’s charity when this year’s letter came in the mail, Gomez said.
Gomez discovered the gift boxes through the Adventure Place family centre, where she works with staff to ensure healthy development in her 3-month-old.
The North York resource centre is one of more than 100 social service agencies in the GTA that are involved with the Santa Claus Fund.
This year’s goal is to raise $1.7 million and deliver gift boxes to 45,000 children in need.
Gomez’s 2-year-old son received the box for the first time last year, and she hopes the gift boxes will help fill the gap and create happy memories for the children while their parents try to secure jobs in their fields.
As the family acclimatizes to Canada, Gomez clings to her Christmas memories and maintains the Colom- bian tradition of opening gifts on the 24th. But they’re also enjoying making new memories, such as seeing snow for the first time.
“In Colombia, we don’t have snow and the only way to see snow is through the TV,” Gomez said.
“So actually feeling the snow in our hands and tongues, and seeing my kid running around and playing like never before made us believe that we made the right decision by settling in Canada.” If you have been touched by the Santa Claus Fund or have a story to tell, please email santaclausfund@thestar.ca.