Gift wrapping can be a chore but it can also be an opportunity to make someone's life a little brighter.
That's the idea behind Share's gift wrap and holiday giving tree at Coquitlam Centre mall.
Once again, the holiday season is getting underway in the Tri-Cities with the local non-profit agency and the local mall and other businesses providing opportunities for community members to help those less fortunate.
Share's giving tree is lit up at the mall and volunteers are on hand for those who want to donate a new, unwrapped toy, gift or gift card for the children and youth whose families register for the annual toy shop program.
And for busy shoppers who aren't crazy about gift wrapping, Share's gift wrap centre will be open during mall hours. The fee for gift wrapping is between $2 and $10 depending on the size of the gift. Shoppers can also drop off their coats and parcels at the coat check in the lounge for $1, with funds going to Share as well.
The donations are important, says Share fund development officer Jake Moir, because about 1,300 hampers need to be filled for families who request them and, last year, 1,895 children and youth benefited from the holiday giving program.
Coquitlam Centre marketing director Deborah Stetz said the mall is pleased to be able to offer Share a home for its Christmas programs.
"We've been supporting Share for decades. They've been our charity of choice for the holiday season. It's important for us as a business to support that."
The program runs until Dec. 24 during mall hours.
HOLIDAY GIVING IN THE TRI-CITIES
Local businesses and agencies are helping out the food bank run by Share Family and Community Services. Here are a few events and information on how you can help:
JERSEY DRAW
A local financial services company is getting into the Christmas spirit by holding a draw for signed official Henrik and Daniel Sedin hockey jerseys, with the proceeds going to the food bank run by Share Family and Community Services.
Port Moody's Concept Group Financial Planning is holding the raffle ticket draw on Thursday, Dec. 18. Tickets are $20 each, with a maximum of 1,000 to be sold. Every ticket gives the holder two chances to win. To enquire about purchasing tickets, contact Concept Group at 604-939-2345 or [email protected].
To date, the company has raised more than $5,000 through community and client donations. In addition, Concept Group helps non-profit groups with their fundraising through its Share the Wealth Program. Concept Group has also directed more than $10,000 to School District 43 for technology purchases.
911 WE CARE
Coquitlam RCMP's 911 dispatch operators are collecting toys for Tri-City children and teens. The group is asking for clean, new unwrapped toy donations for kids and teens aged two to 17. The toys will be taken to Share Family and Community Services, which will distribute them to needy families.
Donations can be made at the main Coquitlam RCMP detachment next to Coquitlam city hall as well as at community police stations in Coquitlam (500 Clarke Rd. and 1059 Ridgeway Ave.) and Port Coquitlam (3312 Coast Meridian Rd. and 2581 Mary Hill Rd. ) until Dec. 12.
For gift ideas, visit www.sharesociety.ca.
FOOD & GIFTS
Envision Financial at 3025 Lougheed Hwy. in Coquitlam is partnering with Share Family and Community Services to collect food and gifts for distribution in the Tri-Cities during the holiday season.
Envision Financial locations are displaying a decorated Christmas tree with Full Cupboard tags containing gift suggestions for a child or senior in the local community as well as tags representing the most wanted food items from local food banks.
Members of the community are invited to make a meaningful difference by taking an ornament from the tree and returning it with a new and unwrapped gift, food or cash donation by Dec.13.
BLANKETS
Local home decor store Urban Barn is helping provide warmth for homeless people in the Tri-Cities this holiday season.
The company is inviting people to drop off a $5 donation to help provide new fleece blankets for Hope for Freedom Society outreach workers to distribute.
In the Tri-Cities, Urban Barn has stores at Coquitlam Centre and in Port Coquitlam at 985 Nicola Ave., near Home Depot.
SANTA PIX
Oxford Learning Centre Coquitlam is opening its doors on Dec. 5 to ring in the holiday season and officially welcome new owner Maribel Flores to the community. From 10 a.m. to noon, families can drop by and get a professional photo with Santa, which will be taken by photographers Marcos Riano from Sensors Photography in Port Moody and Brenda Sinclair from Sinclair Property Staging. In exchange for a photo, participants are asked to bring a donation of food for the food bank. Oxford Learning Coquitlam is located in Suite 206, 1194 Lansdowne Dr., Coquitlam.
CRAM THE CAR
The Coquitlam RCMP is launching the second annual "Cram the Cruiser" food drive and people are asked to bring a non-perishable food donation to help fill up the police car which will be located at the Real Canadian Superstore at 3000 Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam. Both the Share Bear and the Coquitlam RCMP Safety Bear will make an appearance between noon and 2 p.m. on Dec. 6 and will be available for photos. This event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SANTA TRAINS
Ride the West Coast Express for free when you bring along a new, unwrapped toy donation (worth about the same as a WCE pass) for the Share toy bank. The Santa train operates Dec. 6 and 10, departing Mission at 10 a.m. and stopping at all WCE stations - including those in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody - along the way. The train returns from Waterfront Station at 4 p.m.
FILL THE TRUCK
Fill up the fire truck, when Share, in partnership with Safeway, CKPM FM radio station and firefighters in the Tri-Cities host the second annual food drive on Friday, Dec. 12. Bring a non-perishable food item to Safeway locations in the Tri-Cities from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
RASSLIN'
Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling (ECCW) is holding its sixth annual Wrestling with Hunger event on Saturday, Dec. 13. Tony Baroni, Sid Sylum and hometown hero Nicole Matthews will be wrestling to support the Share food bank and Blanket BC. Fans are encouraged to donate food, new toys, blankets and warm clothes and cash. This is a family-friendly event and general admission seats are $16. It takes place at the Elks Hall in PoCo's Leigh Square; doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.
PUCKS & BUCKS
Have fun at the Dec. 19 Coquitlam Express game and enjoy a tailgate barbecue, provided by Joey Coquitlam. Buy a teddy bear for $10 at the game and toss it on the ice when the Express score their first goal. All bears and proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Share toy program. Puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Poirier Sport and Recreation Complex, 640 Poirier St., Coquitlam.
TWIST-ED
On Saturday, Dec. 20, free fitness classes will be running every half hour with Twist Conditioning also contributing $10 for each participant (you're encouraged to bring at least one non-perishable food item). There will also be pictures taken with Santa Claus, barbecued hot dogs and snacks by donation, games for both children and adults, and door prices. visit [email protected] for more information. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Twist Sport Conditioning Centre, 101-1776 Broadway St., Port Coquitlam.
JUST SHARE
Other ways to give: If you cannot make it out to these events, here are other ways to give: Donate food directly to Share's food bank at 2615 Clarke St. in Port Moody (at the rear) or drop your donation off at any grocery store in the Tri-Cities. To find out what food items are most urgently needed, visit www.sharesociety.ca.
