For the past 25 years, Innisfil Christmas 4 Kids (all year round) has made sure that Santa Claus pays a visit to every child in the community, no matter what their circumstances are.
The organization was launched at one Innisfil Public School when the principal asked for help at Christmas for some of the school's struggling families. And now, it has grown to serve the entire municipality.
“We became a registered charity in 2012, and have just been growing by leaps and bounds,” said founder Myrlene Boken. “Last year, we looked after 143 families. This year, we’re going to be over that.”
For the first time, the number of families registered to receive assistance from Innisfil Christmas 4 Kids has already reached 100 “and we’re not even at the end of November,” Boken said. “It’s going to be big.”
The annual campaign kicked off on Wednesday, at the Innisfil Town Hall.
Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard, Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin and members of council, Rotarians and Christmas 4 Kids committee members were on hand to set up the drop box in the town hall foyer.
The public is encouraged to drop off new, unused toys, especially items for ages 10 to 14 and gift cards for teens at town hall, or other authorized locations, including the Lakeshore branch of the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library in Alcona, and the Cookstown Library, Cookstown Antique Market, or the Iron Horse Grill in Cookstown.
Boken is also hoping for some cash donations: in addition to the toys for children, the charity also provides turkeys and other food for Christmas dinner, and winter coats and boots for those who need them.
With this year’s early snow, there’s been a definite need, she said.
And donors should know, “everything they donate stays in Innisfil, for Innisfil children,” Boken added.
The registered charitable organization is in the midst of rebranding. Innisfil Christmas 4 Kids will become “C4Kids,” explained Boken – with the 'C' standing for caring, community and campaign – “because we are not just a Christmas program.”
The organization has a program that provides backpacks stuffed with school supplies for kids returning to class in the fall; a year-round birthday program that ensures kids whose families are struggling financially have a present to bring when they’re invited to a birthday; plus food drives at Easter and Thanksgiving; and an emergency program for residents facing critical needs.
But for now, at this time of year, it’s still just Innisfil Christmas 4 Kids.
Boken noted that despite the building boom in Innisfil, or perhaps because of it, there is more need than ever. House prices are out of reach, rents have shot up – and single-parent families, the working poor, and those dealing with sudden illness are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
“We try to look after them all,” she said.
For more information click here. Cheques should be made out to Innisfil Christmas 4 Kids (all year round).
“It really requires the whole town to pull together, to pull this off,” said co-founder Debra Harrison.
