The Mission Community Services Christmas Bureau wrapped up its giving season this week, providing 767 children and 372 families with toys and food hampers.
“The community has really responded with lots and lots of toys,” MCSS executive director Nate McCready said in an interview.
The Christmas Bureau was open for its final day of 2023 on Tuesday (Dec. 19). However, the Food Centre will remain open for its regular hours throughout the holiday season.
The West Coast Express Santa Train toy drive yielded 23 industrial-size garbage bags full of toys for the bureau, McCready says. Lydia Home and SARA For Women also partnered with MCSS this year for women to come in to pick up gifts for their children and grandchildren.
Additionally, over $130,000 was raised for the Christmas Bureau as of Tuesday, with donations accepted until Dec. 31. A target of $160,000 was set at the beginning of the fundraising campaign. McCready says the Christmas Bureau reached the same target in 2022 by the time it closed.
“We’re asking for more but the community of Mission has given so much already, that it’s almost tough to ask for more to be honest,” McCready said.
Economic pressures that have increased the demand for services like the Christmas Bureau and Food Centre have also strained those who often donate.
McCready cited a study that found Canadian families across the country were planning on spending about 30 per cent less on Christmas in 2023 compared to 2022. He expects it’s not just donations but families’ entire Christmas budget that is taking a hit this year.
“I think people who have generosity in their heart are still going to be generous but I think the level of generosity may change,” McCready said.
The peak in donations that comes during the holiday season takes a sharp dive come January and February, McCready says. The opening months of each new year are the most depleted for the Food Centre.
“People have gone through their season of giving and they’re now in their season of bill paying. They’ve gone through their season of buying presents and they got to pay off their credit cards,” McCready said.
However, McCready says he’s thankful for Mission’s generosity during the holidays and throughout the year.
“We’re standing there going ‘Hey, we need more’ but we’re really grateful for what’s been done. We’ve helped over 700 kids [get help]. That’s amazing,” he said.
In addition to meeting the $160,000 goal, MCSS is looking for donations of winter clothing such as coats, gloves and hats.
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