Volunteers needed to help Centre 55 sort and deliver Share A Christmas donations next week
By MATTHEW STEPHENS
With Christmas just over two weeks away, Centre 55 is continuing to seek support from the community to help sort and deliver toys and gift cards before Santa’s big day arrives on Thursday, Dec. 25.
“We are always grateful for additional volunteers,” said Reza Khoshdel, Executive Director at Centre 55. “Residents play a vital role in making the program possible.”
“Our Share A Christmas program embodies the true spirit of community. For many families, the holiday season can be especially challenging when day-to-day essentials are already difficult to afford. This program offers relief, dignity, and hope at a time when it is needed most.”
Now in its 44th year, Share A Christmas helps out more than 1,000 local families in need during the holiday season with donations of grocery gift cards, toys for children and other items,
Volunteers are needed by Centre 55 to help sort toys and gift cards on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.; and to help distribute the donated items to families on Wednesday, Dec. 17, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
To sign up as a volunteer, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Jeynes, at jennifer@centre55.com.
Centre 55 advises volunteers to sign up in advance to ensure there are enough spaces and roles available for everyone who wants to come out and help.
In addition to volunteering next week, members of the community still have a chance support the program by providing donations in the form of unwrapped toys, grocery gift cards, as well as direct financial support, or by organizing collection drives through workplaces, schools, faith groups, or local organizations.
Reza told Beach Metro Community News that grocery gift cards are a priority item for donations, “as they allow families to purchase the items that best meet their needs.”
Other priority items include gift cards and unwrapped gifts for older children and teenagers, who are often overlooked when it comes to program support.
Although Centre 55 works with the food bank at Calvary Baptist Church on Main Street to provide food to families in need, food donations continue to be an ongoing “significant” demand all year round.
For those facing financial challenges and with little to spare in the way of personal donations this holiday season, Khoshdel said that simply informing others about the Share A Christmas cause is a worthy contribution to the program’s efforts.
“Even simply spreading the word helps extend our reach and ensures more families receive support,” said Khoshdel.
“It brings neighbours together, strengthens our sense of belonging, and reminds us that even small acts of generosity can have a profound impact. Each year, we see how deeply people care for one another, and it is this collective kindness that makes Share A Christmas so meaningful.”
For more information about Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program, head to https://www.centre55.com/programs/share-a-christmas/.
