Best Toys for Tots Breakfast Yet!

 

The magical feeling of Christmas was hard to deny at this year’s Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast presented by Quality Hotel.
The sense of a supportive community was tangible. Today, we are overwhelmed with gratitude toward our community and the heartfelt involvement and generosity towards children in need. Special thanks to the donor who came forward to match every donation at the event!

Together we raised a record of 2,058 toys and over $58,400 in financial support. The morning included spirited Christmas Music, a visit from Santa, delicious breakfast buffet, a festive craft corner, photo booth magic and an enchanted visit from princesses. One guest said – “This was my first year attending. I was so impressed with the event, my expectations were blown away. The friendly volunteers, performers, and fantastic food helped our family kick off the season with the right intentions; hospitality, community, and giving. I am certain this will be a family tradition for years to come.”- Raquel

The success of this event would not have been possible without the investment from our community.  We would like to thank first and foremost, Quality Hotel & Conference Centre for their desire to host a wonderful community event and the graciousness of the staff who warmly served our community. Special thanks to the chef who put in extra time and care into the buffet and the staff who prepared the room overnight and then served in the morning!

Thank you to Envision Financial and Teamwork Property Management for their generous support of Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast! Your enthusiasm for this event was evident in this year’s participation. Thank you for sharing your friendly staff. They are enthusiastic volunteers with a willingness to serve our community well. Your wholehearted support and promotion of the event were invaluable.

 

We are extremely thankful for having Country 107.1 with Chris & Jess, live on location at the event.  Your excitement to participate and commitment to the event year after year is so special to us. The Abbotsford News was also instrumental in encouraging our community to attend. Together we were able to share our excitement with our community. We had so many people coming up to us to tell us that they saw our event on What’s On Magazine and Pattison Outdoor signs.  Thank you for sharing this event with a wider audience! We also want to make a huge shout out to all those who shared and promoted Toys for Tots on Social Media. Your support is amazing!

A huge thank you also needs to go out to our brilliant event sponsors. With sponsorship, we were able to run a wonderful event at very little cost. We are most grateful for Assante Wealth Management, Complete Eyecare, FraserWay RV, Hub International Coastal Insurance Brokers, Imperial Finishing Ltd, Jack’s Towing Ltd., Jag’s Furniture & Mattress,  JMV Woodworks Ltd, Lepp Farm Market, Live Well Exercise Clinic, Sevenoaks Shopping Centre, and Tri- Link Systems Inc. With their partnership, we were able to maximize the financial benefit to those who really need the support this Christmas—the children of our community!

 

The event had amazing product sponsorship!  Thank you to Starbucks of Sumas & Delair for sending your coffee and hot chocolate and making the drive-thru delicious. We are so thankful to McDonalds Whatcom who also stepped up to provide coffee for the event! Thank you to Candace Stock Photography for sharing your beautiful daughter for the promotional material. Thank you, Castle Fun Park, for enticing early risers to the event with gift cards.

 

One of the most exciting parts of the event was the entertainment lineup. A huge thank you Teamwork Property Management for making this possible! We are so grateful for the talented entertainment found in our community!  Thank you to Carmell & Cadence for sharing your genuine love of music, Tori & Janver for you folky Christmas flare, Coalmont for sharing your soulful melodies and soothing Christmas renditions, MEI Chamber Singers for your enthusiastic deliveries of classic Christmas Carols, to The Heights for sharing your beautiful harmonies and talent, and to the Ever After princesses, thank you for making the day of many young monarchs in waiting. Santa, your merriment charmed the crowd, thank you. Thank you, Adera Angelucci for your ability to roll with the ever-changing morning and keeping the event running smoothly. Thank you to Jason Janzen for your amazing sound skills and your willingness to serve our community.

 

Shane, thank you for sharing Cheddarbooth. Your ability to capture the joy in the moment will be cherished for years.  Thank you for being there! The craft corner was a hit, too. Thank you Tourism Abbotsford for providing a fun and organized craft for all to enjoy! Thank you Canadian Linen & Uniform Services, Able Cresting, and First Class Waste for providing the essentials needed to present one good looking and clean event. Thank you to Save on Foods, Gordon Food Service, Coca-Cola,  Mainland Machinery, Natures Pickins, Neufeld Farms, and Vanderpol’s for donating ingredients for the most delicious buffet breakfast! Thank you Master Mind Abbotsford for providing such a fun door prize!

Last but certainly not the least, we were blown away by the support and commitment of the volunteers from Paramedics of BC Emergency Health Services, Firefighters of Local 2864, Envision Financial, Teamwork Property Management, Abbotsford Food Bank, Abbotsford Community Services and members of the community who pitched in to help!  Your ability to greet guests with enthusiasm, direct traffic, run toys, and help with clean-up was so valuable to the success of the event! Having each guest greeted by Abbotsford service members – Fire Fighters, Paramedics, and Police, really impacted the community spirit of the event. Laura Balzer, your photos are magical, thank you for capturing the morning beautifully. Diane Rauch, thank you for your enthusiasm to serve and reliably directing volunteers at the event. A BIG thank you to the volunteer committee! Daniel Laverick, for your dependability and ability to bring together all that is needed for a delicious buffet. Becky Moore, for putting your heart into helping, you were such a wonderful support. Connie Hackett thank you for sharing your amazing social media skills, I couldn’t have done it without you! We are so thankful for all the time and expertise that was shared to make this event a success!

 

Once again, our needs were met in ways that were unexpected. From unexpected sponsor investments to social media posts from supporters at just the right time, it all seemed to be supernaturally orchestrated to benefit those in need in our community.  As an event coordinator, this is humbling and heartwarming. The same is true in the circumstance of the families who need the Food Bank and Christmas Bureau. While each story is unique, Christmas is often a time full of anxiety and fear. When those worries are met with unexpected hope, lives change. When families are given the opportunity to celebrate a Christmas through the love and support of our community, hope comes shining through. Christmas becomes so much more meaningful when shared with others.  From all of us at the Abbotsford Food Bank and Christmas Bureau, thank you for coming together to bring hope and share the joy with children in our community.  Your generosity is overwhelming.  May you be filled with hope and joy this Christmas season.