For many people, the holidays are time of great cheer, while others face loneliness or poverty that is amplified by the joy around them. What’s more, lots of us strive for balance during the Christmas season, focusing on both having fun and finding meaning in the holidays while being conscious that they’re difficult for some.
If you’re looking to give back during the holidays, we have some great opportunities for you to explore. They’re a great mix of fun and goodwill towards those in need in our community.
For many people, the holidays are time of great cheer, while others face loneliness or poverty that is amplified by the joy around them. What’s more, lots of us strive for balance during the Christmas season, focusing on both having fun and finding meaning in the holidays while being conscious that they’re difficult for some.
If you’re looking to give back during the holidays, we have some great opportunities for you to explore. They’re a great mix of fun and goodwill towards those in need in our community.
Toys for Tots. We encourage you to join us on Friday, November 23rd for the annual Quality Hotel Toys for Tots Breakfast, in support of the Abbotsford Food Bank’s Christmas Bureau! Bring a new, unwrapped toy or a cash donation and enjoy a delicious breakfast and outstanding holiday entertainment! What’s more, monetary donations up to $20,000 are being matched by a local donor, so if you attend you can really make an impact to help local kids.
The Christmas Bureau. If you can’t join us for breakfast on Friday the 23rd but want to bring a smile to someone’s face, you can support the Christmas Bureau as a volunteer or sponsor a family or senior this Christmas. Signing up to do either is quick and easy online!
The Abbotsford Food Bank. If the prospect of feeding hungry people speaks to you, consider supporting a family, seniors or an individual by making a donation to the Abbotsford Community Services’ Food Bank. While non-perishable items like peanut butter and Kraft dinner are always appreciated, the Food Bank’s considerable buying power means they can maximize monetary donations and feed even more people.
Gift wrapping at Sevenoaks Mall. Once again we’re at Sevenoaks Mall, wrapping gifts in support of our Community Connections program. Community Connections helps newcomers to Canada settle into life in Abbotsford with a number of innovative opportunities, such as knitting groups, drop-in soccer nights, one-on-one matching and English conversation circles. Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts, but if you’re unavailable, why not stop by and let us wrap your shopping for you?
Area of Greatest Need – If you want to support a wide variety of people and social causes you can donate to our Area of Greatest Need Fund. These donations are pooled together and support under-funded programs. Some of people supported are seniors , immigrant youth, farmworkers, expectant mothers and young dads.
Prospera Youth Angel Tree – With the generous participation of Prospera Credit Union, Christmas trees are set up at local branches featuring holiday wishes from local youth. Residents are invited to stop by a branch and take a tag, purchase a new gift for the youth and bring it back unwrapped.
Giving Tuesday – After Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday, the day to give back. We want to see how you like to give back! Whether it’s a lemonade stand or corporate volunteering initiative, how do you and your family, friends and co-workers help build a better Abbotsford? Check out our Giving Tuesday page to learn more and contribute to our legacy of “people helping people.”
As we head towards the holidays, we want to say thank you for your support throughout the last year. Thanks to you, we are able to help local people in need and together!