7th Toys for Tots Wrap Up
The 7th year of Quality Hotel’s Christmas Breakfast was another wonderful year of seeing the community respond with care for children in need at Christmas. We are happy to announce that together we raised over $42,200 and 1,786 toys for the Abbotsford Christmas Bureau. During the event this year, I came upon one person who had tears in their eyes saying, “I can hardly believe how many people woke up this early to make a difference for a child at Christmas, I’m tearing up.” The Christmas spirit was strong, the joy in the faces of the attendees was evident.
“I can hardly believe how many people woke up this early to make a difference for a child at Christmas, I’m tearing up.” – Guest
From engaging entertainment, to the energetic volunteers, to the excited guests – everyone was eager to kick off the Christmas season by helping those in need. One guest pulled me aside to complement the volunteer support. “They found me a spot to sit with my 4 kids when my hands were full of food, I was so impressed by their helpfulness”. While a volunteer enthusiastically told me, “We had so much fun, we’ll be back next year for sure!” A good time was had by all.
Once again, the morning included spirited Christmas music sponsored by DNC Lawyers, a visit from Santa, delicious breakfast buffet, a festive craft corner sponsored by Sevenoaks Shopping Centre, photo booth magic and an enchanted visit from princesses.
Santa photo album on Facebook:
The success of this event would not have been possible without the investment from our sponsors. 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!
Thank you to Envision Financial and Teamwork Property Management for their generous sponsorship of Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast! Your continued enthusiasm for helping children at Christmas is evident each year. 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 was invaluable.
Thanks to Media
We are extremely thankful for having Country 107.1 with Chris & Jess, and Star 98.3 with Scott & Lisa live on location at the event. Your enthusiastic excitement to talk to Santa was matched by your commitment to being at the event year after year. This is so special to us. The Abbotsford News and Abbotsford’s What’s On Magazine was also instrumental in encouraging our community to attend. Thank you also to Pattison Outdoor Signs for sharing the event. Not only did the digital sign give the event great exposure, but the little girl in the ad had her mind blown by how big her face could be. 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! Together we were able to share our excitement with the community.
Thanks to Sponsors
A huge thank you also needs to go out to our brilliant event sponsors. With sponsorship, we were able to run an event at very little cost. We are so grateful to our Gold sponsors Assante Wealth Management, Elite Fire Protection Ltd., Fraswerway RV, Imperial Finishing, Jag’s Furniture & Mattress, JMV Woodworks Ltd., and Saxon Mechanical Limited and our Silver sponsors Hub International, and Prospera Credit Union. Thanks also to our Table Sponsors Complete Eyecare, Booster Juice and Jack’s Towing. Not only did they choose to make a difference by sponsoring, but many of them also encouraged their staff to attend and bring toys! 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!
One of the most exciting parts of the event was the entertainment lineup. A huge thanks to DNC Integra Lawers LLP for making this possible! We are so grateful for the talented entertainment found in our community! Thank you to Caleb Van Der Leek for sharing your love of unique Christmas music, Travis Thuro for your willingness to wake up the earliest, Coalmont for sharing your soulful melodies and soothing Christmas renditions, MEI Chamber Singers for your enthusiastic deliveries of classic Christmas Carols, to Ryan Mcallister for sharing your fine musical 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, and Snowball was a great help – thank you. Clifford Prang, your ability to entertain at the same time as keeping the morning running smoothly amazes me. I am so thankful I can trust you wholeheartedly to run the morning well. Thank you to Jason Janzen for your amazing sound skills, flexibility to roll with the punches and your willingness to serve our community.
The event had amazing product sponsorship! Thank you to Starbucks of Sumas & Delair for sending your coffee and hot water, thank you Tim Hortons for sending your coffee and together making the drive-thru delicious. We are so thankful to McDonalds Whatcom who also stepped up to provide muffins for the event! Thank you to Brad and Sarah Quiring for providing your sweet daughter for the promotional material. Thank you, Castle Fun Park, for providing door prize fun in the form gift cards! Thank you Winks Home for providing a lovely Christmas home décor door prize. Thank you also to Abbotsford Centre for providing a family pack for Paw Patrol Live.
Josie, thank you for sharing Langis Flipbooks & Photobooths. Your generosity towards the event moves our hearts, thank you for being there! Thank you Canadian Linen & Uniform Services, Able Cresting, Global Convention Services Ltd. and First Class Waste for providing the essentials needed to present one good looking and clean event. Thank you to Gordon Food Service, Coca-Cola, Natures Pickins, Neufeld Farms, Taves Family Farm, and Vanderpol’s for donating ingredients for the most delicious buffet breakfast! Thanks to Vitalus for adding a special treat of protein smoothies to the buffet line up this year!
Thanks to Volunteers
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, Archway Food Bank, Archway Community Services, Prospera Credit Union 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! Candace Stock, your photos are magical, thank you for capturing the morning beautifully. A HUGE thank you to Diane Rauch, you are such an amazing support. I don’t know what I’d do without you! The same could be said for Meghan Franklin and 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! Including the team from the Refine Space and Abbotsford Paint- thank you for your commitment to beautifying the stage!
“They found me a spot to sit with my 4 kids when my hands were full of food, I was so impressed by their helpfulness”. – guest referring to helpful volunteers
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. When 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. From all of us at the Archway Food Bank and Christmas Bureau, thank you for coming together to bring hope and share the joy with children in our community.
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