Kick off this holiday season at the Junction Mall on Nov. 22 with the second annual Christmas tree lighting.
Mission Community Service Society's Christmas Bureau will officially kick off this year's campaign at the event and everyone attending is encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation to help the drive.
"We invite everyone to come down to the Junction to get into the spirit of the holidays," said Mr. Mike's owner Renu Sidhu, who is coordinating the event.
The tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m. and there will be contests and activities throughout the evening. Come dressed in your most hideous sweater and enter the Ugly Sweater Contest, or bring your sleuthing skills and join the scavenger hunt. There will also be a zone for kids, food, live music, and a chance to meet Santa beginning at 6 p.m.
Browse through participating stores and take advantage of specials and sales, said Sidhu, who is reminding holiday shoppers to support local merchants and the Christmas Bureau by taking part in the Chamber of Commerce's Pay it Forward campaign, which also begins that night.
From Nov. 22 to Dec. 15, five cents will be donated to the Christmas Bureau for every receipt dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce office on Lougheed Highway or at one of the marked boxes inside stores around the community.
The program raised more than $4,800 for the bureau last year.
The bureau hopes to raise $120,000 this year to help needy families, said coordinator Phil Hope. More than 1,600 people relied on the organizations to help make their holidays brighter last year.
The main Christmas Bureau office is located at 32646 Logan Ave., but a second location at the Junction (old Blockbuster building) will be opened to accept donations too.
Registrations are only being taken at the Junction from Nov. 19 to Dec. 6, said Hope.
Cash donations as well as non-perishable food and new gifts are needed this time of year. Look for the orange trailer at special events, supplied by Prospect Equipment, to drop off your contributions, said Hope. The trailer is now parked at Save On Foods.
For more information about the Christmas Bureau visit www.missionfoodcentre.ca.