Bringing Smiles To Children’s Faces

Last Friday, the Calgary Public Relations & Development team was at The Salvation Army warehouse to assist with unloading, counting, and sorting the toys that were collected at Calgary Police Service locations as part of the Toy Angels campaign. In all, over 1100 toys filled the bins waiting to be selected by volunteers to bring joy to a child on Christmas morning.

Also on display at the warehouse was the spirit of giving that exists in our community. The challenging economic times have left many families struggling to make ends meet and still others are scaling back their spending as we go through these uncertain times. And yet people are walking into the warehouse with not just a toy or a bag of toys, but needing assistance to unload a car load of toys. Kids from sports teams and scout troops are contributing to make sure their peers have a Merry Christmas. Volunteer elves with children’s wish lists and shopping cart in hand are carefully selecting and packaging gifts for families in need. Parents who are picking up their hampers are wearing relieved smiles and extending thank you’s for the gifts they have received for their children. It was the kind of day that leaves one grateful to live in a community where people are so willing to help each other out.

Numerous toy drives happen right across the Alberta & Northern Territories Division. The Salvation Army is grateful for every individual, family, business, service club, and partner who contributes gifts and toys, or volunteers to pack toy hampers so that a child will have gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. Your generosity allows us to share the hope and joy of the season! Thank you!