Acknowledging that a year has passed since everything changed on March 11th, 2020 is both unpleasant and needed. While we are still grieving many changes, we’ve been given hope that the summer will be different as vaccines continue to roll out.
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by Tracy Rahn (Christmas Bureau Coordinator) and Rebecca Thuro
If there is one thing that connects us all as human beings, it’s the deep desire to be seen. To be known. To feel that we belong. It is, in the simplest terms, the need for connection – this has been especially highlighted in a year where isolation is necessary. I (Tracy Rahn) experienced some of the most profound moments of connection, of empathy and understanding at this year’s Christmas Bureau. I found it peeking out from behind masked faces, passing sets of eyes that we sometimes may not even recognize as our neighbour or old acquaintance.
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Over the last 14 years the Archway Food Bank has depended on the annual Fraser Valley Auto Mall Food Bank Drive to help provide food throughout the holiday season. This year we were overjoyed when a donation of $27,250 was made on Saturday, December 19th.
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by Lucas Driediger
I was first introduced to Tammy earlier this Fall. Although she had used the Food Bank off and on in the past, the pandemic and changed things. With some newly diagnosed health issues, contracting any new sickness has created new challenges.
Thankfully, the combination of her positive attitude, strong demeanor, and community support have helped her get by in this time.
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In dark times like these, it’s stories of hope that lift our spirits. We’d like to introduce you to Kihci Têpakohp Iskotêw Iskwêw (Emily Henry) a current board member at Archway Community Services. She is a Néhiyaw (Cree) person, originally from Ochapowace Band, Saskatchewan and she shares a personal story of how the compassion of strangers made a lifelong impact at Christmas when she was a child.
Her story is one of hope and how its effects can ripple through time.
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From the beginning of the planning process to the eventual cancellation of Toys for Tots Drive Thru, nothing could have prepared us for this year. Planning an event during a pandemic is not for the faint of heart! Knowing that the event was a huge driving force in making Christmas possible for 1,500 children was all the motivation we needed to continue to adjust the plans as guidelines changed. It was this fact that united the volunteers, sponsors, partners, and community.
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With many events cancelled and toy donations down, we need your help more than ever! Giving every family the opportunity to experience the joy of Christmas is the goal of the Abbotsford Archway Christmas Bureau program – will you help to make that happen by donating a toy this year?
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We are so thankful to be able to continue the tradition of kicking off the Holiday season in the true spirit of Christmas at the re-imagined Toys for Tots Drive-Thru – hosted by Clarion Hotel (formerly Quality Hotel) on November 27th from 7:00 am-10:00 am. No one could have predicted how different this year would be. That’s why the return of sponsors, partners and community support and means so much more!
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by Rebecca Thuro
(3 minute read)
Every year we enter the Christmas season with some loose ends that need a touch of the miraculous. This year we needed a building to host the Christmas Bureau toy room and a way to raise $1.2 million by December 31st. Feeding 3,300 people doesn’t get easier at Christmas. It requires even more engagement from our community. And that is just what we found.
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Can we pass you a virtual Kleenex? When you give to Archway Food Bank, you are making a difference in the lives of people like Erica.
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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.
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by Candace Stock
(3 minute read)
It’s that time of year – wreathes and lights are going up, presents are being bought, families are planning their gatherings. Unfortunately for some, this time of year can be filled with fear of survival of the holiday. When the stress of being able to put food on the table already exists, gifts under the tree seem out of reach. Thankfully, with the help of our community, we are able to change that for many families.
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You are invited to our 7th Annual Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast! We can hardly believe that it’s sneaking up in less than a month! We’ve been excitedly preparing all the details for Friday morning, November 22nd between 6am-9:30am. Have you been to the event before? It’s the best way to kick off the Holiday season (if we do say so ourselves😊).
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Wow, another successful year! We define success, in large part, by the stories of gratitude that have been shared with us by both those who have been helped and those who have been able to extend help this Christmas. And guess what, we have SO MANY STORIES this year. Each year we face different challenges to make the Abbotsford Christmas Bureau a reality. This year was no different, from the loss of a distribution location to medical emergencies – the start of this season was a little shaky.
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With the help of our community and caring staff we are able to bring Christmas to those who may otherwise go without. It’s such an honour to be able to be a part of helping our community.
We are so thankful to all the people who were able to sponsor families and seniors this Christmas. Here are just a few of the Sponsor’s stories.
Here is Abbotsford Food Bank’s 2018 Holiday hours.
Thanks so much for thinking of us during this season!
Christmas is a season full of hope, joy and wonder. It represents time spent with family, friends and the opportunity to spoil those we love the most. But for many in our community, it can also be difficult – especially if you have trouble putting food on the table. Thankfully, a gift to the Abbotsford Food Bank & Christmas Bureau can change that.
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