Santas Anonymous
I was originally going to write about Edmonton-based breweries but, in the spirit of the season, I’m going to write about Santas Anonymous.
To me, Santas Anonymous is a great charity. Basically, people donate toys to them, and then they distribute the toys to needy children around Edmonton. What could be better than bringing a smile to the face of a child on Christmas morning?
Yes, there are needy children all around the world, and we need to help them. But, we also need to address the problems in our own backyard.
There is poverty in Edmonton. Ironically, in these boom times, it’s worse than it’s been in a long time. Giving a toy to a kid on Christmas is just one way of helping.
If you’re going to donate a toy, you’ve got to do it now. Volunteers will begin delivering the gifts this weekend, so today is pretty much the last day to donate toys.
Like most years, what is needed most are toys for kids 9-12.
People tend to forget about kids in the older age ranges, for some reason. Maybe the idea of a 5-year-old going without a toy is more heartbreaking than a 12-year-old?
Whatever the case, they need toys and books for older kids. Go buy a G.I. Joe, or a Ninja Turtle, or whatever it is that the kids are playing with these days, and drop it in one of the donation boxes.
If you’re unable to spend the money, you can also give the gift of time. Santas Anonymous needs volunteers to help wrap and deliver gifts: effective immediately. If you’ve got time that you can give, it’s needed just as much as the actual toys.
Maybe it’s just the time of year, but I really do think this is one of the best local charity’s that there is.
My parents struggled financially when I was younger, but they always managed to put toys under the tree.
We were the kind of poor where the kids don’t know that they’re poor. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.
I never had to go without gifts on Christmas morning, but a lot of kids do, and it’s up to the more prosperous in our society to look after those in need.
Again, you might not be able to afford to buy a toy. But, if you’ve got some spare time, you can help wrap and deliver gifts. And, let’s be honest, we all give to charity because it makes us feel good.
What would make you feel better, putting a toy in a box at the mall, or physically handing it to a needy family?