Volunteer addicted to lending a hand
Mississauga woman started helping out in Grade 9 and still loves what she does
What started as an obligation to complete her community service hours in high school has turned into a young woman’s 17-year commitment to the Santa Claus Fund — and counting.
Amanda Krmelj Jocic was a 15-year-old Grade 9 student at Mississauga’s St. Paul’s Secondary School when she first joined her mother to volunteer at the Star charity’s warehouse to help pack Christmas gift boxes for children in need across the GTA.
Since then, Krmelj Jocic has returned every year to give her time to the fund, including one year in college when she was hired as a temp at the warehouse, packing boxes, doing data entry and delivering gift boxes.
“I didn’t come from a wealthy family, but we always had toys for Christmas. That volunteer experience really opened my eyes to the real world that so many families couldn’t afford to buy gifts for their children for Christmas,” said Krmelj Jocic, now 32, and working as a branch manager for an automobile company. “I just keep coming back, 17 years in a row.”
While the malls and radio stations only start playing holiday music in late November, Krmelj Jocic said Christmas always comes early at the Santa Claus Fund warehouse where the “elves” tirelessly hurry to pack their orders into colourful gift boxes with Christmas carols playing in the background.
“I just love what I do here. Everyone feels so welcome and they make it fun. Sometimes I help talk to high school kids and explain why they are there and they feel positive about it,” she said.
However, the best experience for Krmelj Jocic has been dropping off the gifts at the children’s doors for the Star’s Santa Claus Fund program.
“You go to the apartment and the faces of these kids just light up when they see what’s inside the gift box. That’s always my favourite part,” she explained.
“There was one year when this 5-yearold boy opened the door. He was all by himself but he just had the biggest smile on his face, ear to ear, when he saw us. It just melted my heart. He was so thankful that somebody remembered him.”
When Krmelj Jocic and husband Aleksandar Jocic started dating, he always wondered why she had so much “shopping” to do and so many gift boxes to pack.
“I would say to him, ‘I’m busy and can’t really make time for you before Christmas.’ So one time I brought him with me and showed him what it’s all about,” Krmelj Jocic said with a chuckle.
“Christmas is my favourite time of the year. You get into this spirit of giving back and sharing your life with others. It is such a great feeling.” If you have been touched by the Santa Claus Fund or have a story to tell, please email santaclausfund@thestar.ca.