Centennial College plays Santa in two ways
Progress Campus provides both a depot and volunteers
Yue Kong can’t forget a house she delivered boxes to last year.
There were three young boys wearing ripped clothes in terribly poor condition. The mother looked exhausted, and Kong remembers taking a quick glance into the house and saw old, worn-out furniture.
“They looked really sad,” said Kong. “I couldn’t believe people were living in this condition in Toronto.”
But when she took out the boxes and told them “Merry Christmas,” the boys’ faces lit up.
“They were surprised,” she said. “They didn’t believe a gift would arrive at home.”
And that’s what brought her back to volunteer again this year: knowing she’s making a difference in the lives of children in need.
Volunteering for the Star’s Santa Claus Fund is set to become a Christmas tradition for Kong and her husband. He drives and she delivers.
Kong, 40, is in her final year of the early-childhood education program at Centennial College and is part of a team of more than 50 student and staff volunteers who come together at the college’s Progress Campus to ensure that 1,000 boxes are delivered to families.
For the second year, the campus is hosting one of more than 40 depots scattered around Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Ajax and Pickering. Think of the depots as Santa’s factories — they’re where the boxes are gathered, sorted and then delivered to families by the elves (i.e. volunteers).
The early childhood education program at the college co-ordinates the initiative, but students in community studies and other programs join forces to sprinkle some Christmas joy onto families.
“I think it’s a real eye opener to global citizenship, which is our main focus here at Centennial,” said Lynn Haines, a professor at the college who is faculty lead on the project. “We look for every opportunity there is to introduce it to our graduates so they take that learning with them when they leave the college.”
It’s only Kong’s second year volun- teering, but she hopes to stay involved long after she graduates.
“These children are in need and these boxes make them happy. I’m really happy to do it.”
Kong has read about needy families in newspapers and textbooks, but by volunteering she gets to see it first hand. “I really sense it now.”
The college not only provides the space for the boxes, but also the volunteers to deliver them. Barbara Mrozek, director of Toronto Star charities and philanthropy, says the work of the volunteers is very important in ensuring the boxes are delivered in a timely manner.
“It’s a huge sigh of relief for us to try to find both space and volunteers,” said Mrozek. “It’s a fantastic benefit to the fund.”
If there’s one thing Haines enjoys most, it’s hearing the students’ stories about volunteering and the learning that comes with the experience.
“It becomes a real commitment to making a change in the community.
“The children, they are so excited and the parents are really grateful. It can make you feel like you’re doing something that’s so kind and caring, even though you’re just delivering boxes.” If you have been touched by the Santa Claus Fund or have a story to tell, please email santaclausfund@thestar.ca.