Special gifts await boys and girls club
For more than a decade, families at the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club have been receiving gifts through the Star’s Santa Claus Fund — something many of them look forward to every year.
“Everybody says Christmas is for kids. I would say Christmas is for families, and it lifts a burden and creates a spirit,” said Sheldon Taylor, the group’s executive director.
“There is anticipation, and they feel extremely validated and important,” he said, adding the gifts help to “level the playing field.”
“I know that it’s very important because we have had feedback repeatedly indicating how important it is to families who’ve been able to partake.”
About 40 kids from the club will be receiving gifts through the Santa Claus Fund this year.
The fund provides 45,000 underprivileged children aged12 and younger in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Pickering and Ajax with gift boxes at Christmas. Recipients receive a warm shirt (toddlers get a fleecelined tracksuit while newborn infants get a five-piece set that includes onesies), a warm hat, warm gloves or mittens, socks, a toy, a book, cookies and dental hygiene items (aged 4 and up) inside.
This is the third year Bianca and Brian Ferreira will be receiving the gifts and they’re both excited.
“We use the hat and everything they give to us,” said Bianca, 9. Her favourite hat from past years was purple.
Brian, 10, couldn’t choose a favourite — he said he’d have to sort out all his hats to do that.
“The first time we knew we were going to receive the box we never expected something so nice like it was. The first time was a big, big surprise,” said their mom, Aldina Pimenta, a single mother.
“That box will make my kids happy, that’s for sure, and other kids, too,” she added.
Her kids have been going to the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club for about three years.
“It’s really nice,” said Brian, who loves all the sports programs they have to offer.
“It’s very nice because we have a lot of friends there and there’s a lot of programs,” his sister added, saying she really likes the Christmas play.
It was the Boys and Girls Club that connected the family with the Santa Claus Fund.
“I’m not a person who can give a lot to my kids, but I always try my best,” Pimenta said.
“But it’s a really, really nice gift, and we’re always expecting the knock on the door for the box, that’s for sure.” If you have been touched by the Santa Claus Fund or have a story to tell, please email santaclausfund@thestar.ca.