Record Breaking Year

(7 min read)
By Rebecca Thuro

The magical feeling of Christmas was tangible during the 2018 Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast. As the event organizer, each year during the planning process I have the little voice that says “what if there isn’t enough this year”. I’d imagine this is the question many hold in their hearts as they enter the holiday season. For families that use the Christmas Bureau not having enough isn’t just a fear, it’s a reality. Thankfully, I am so happy to announce that because of the big heartedness of our community we will once again be able to fully support each family that needs to turn to the Christmas Bureau.

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Abby Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast 2018

(2-Minute Read) By Meghan Franklin

Our 6th Annual Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast is just around the corner, and we can’t wait! We have been excitedly preparing and planning for Friday, November 23rd. If you have never attended one of these events, you are in for a treat! Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast is a fun family friendly event that kicks off the Christmas season. Join us anytime from 6:00 am to 9:30 am at the Quality Hotel for a delicious hot breakfast, crafts, photo booth, a visit with Santa, live Christmas carols and local entertainment brought to us by Sevenoaks Shopping Centre. Everyone is invited to participate. All we ask is that you bring a new toy for any age or a monetary donation to the event to benefit the Abbotsford Christmas Bureau and Food Bank.

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Christmas Bureau 2017 Wrap up

Christmas Bureau 2017 Results

Another Christmas is wrapped up and we wanted to say thank you to all who helped make this year another success! Whether you gave in time, money, service or all the above, it made a difference and we are so thankful. We know that many of you do not give out of excess, but rather make sacrifices in order to make giving to the Christmas Bureau possible and we admire that so much. Watching the community surround us once again is an amazing experience. We are so grateful to be able to witness our community show such love to the families who come to us for help.

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Our Favourite Stories

Updated: December 22, 2017

Every once in a while, we need to take a step back and remind ourselves of the good that is happening right under our noses. While the names have been changed to protect our guests, the stories are real. Real families, and real experiences. Their lives may be difficult, but they are made a lot better by our amazing community.
Here are a few of our favourite stories:

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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!

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Abby Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast 2017

Toys For Tots Christmas Breakfast is a fun family event that kicks off the Christmas season with the true spirit of the season – giving to children in need.  On November 24th from 6 am – 9:30 am the community is invited to bring a new toy for any age or a monetary donation to the event. Stay for a delicious hot breakfast, craft, photo booth, a visit with Santa, live Christmas carols and local entertainment.

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Hope Shared at Christmas

Now that we are officially on the other side of the Holiday whirlwind, we find ourselves reflecting on and savoring each and every story that was graciously shared with us. The theme through the stories, it seems, is one of overwhelming gratitude and hope from both the giver and receiver. As an organization, we are so thankful to get this type of feedback. We are honoured to be able to see and hear how our neighbours came together to take care of those who are struggling—especially through the Christmas season.

 

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You Made our Christmas Merry

Every year we are taken aback by the level of support that this community shows. From unforeseen food drives and financial collections to seeing a child sacrifice their birthday so that others can eat, each act of generosity is so encouraging to us. In all of it, in every act of kindness, every gift, and every sacrificed hour, there exists a common thread of hope–a hope that together we can make a difference in the lives of those that need it most. Together, this year, we make a stand that the hungry will be fed, the senior will not be forgotten, the family will know a community that cares and the child will know the joy of Christmas.

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You are the Key

Christmas 2016 Hours

We are so thankful for the wonderful support of our community. You are the key to making a difference in Abbotsford.  We have extended our hours into most of the Saturdays of December for your donating convenience – 10AM-2PM. December and January are full of Statutory Holidays, please note the image below for all holiday hours.

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Stories from the Change Makers

Did you know that if you live in Abbotsford, you are living in a place that is considered one of the most generous communities in Canada? We can certainly testify to the fact that our community rallies around those in need and has the heart to see lives changed.

We would like to introduce you to some of the friendly faces of Abbotsford. They are your neighbours who know the joy of giving in Abbotsford.

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Abby Toys for Tots – Incredible Response

Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast presented by Quality Hotel, has once again, left us feeling overwhelmed with gratitude toward our community. We have been blown away by our community’s heartfelt involvement and generosity towards children in need. Together we raised a record of 1,600 toys and over $32,000 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 mother said – “I love bringing my kids to this event! The best part is letting them pick out a gift for another child. It’s great way to kick off the season. The princesses were a big hit in our family too.”- Sarah

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Ways to Help This Christmas

 

Christmas preparations are now in high gear here at the Abbotsford Food Bank and Christmas Bureau, and have been for many months. If Santa’s Workshop were a real place, we’d imagine it to look a lot like this. Gifts are flooding our doors, shelves are being stocked, and there’s a level of nervous excitement that doesn’t come around any other time of the year.

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Christmas Bureau – A story of Hope

Each year the Abbotsford Food Bank and Christmas Bureau lets you, our valuable supporters, know what our needs are financially. This year we need to raise $850,000 by year’s end to keep helping people in need in Abbotsford. A very helpful envelope should be arriving to your door this week.  We want everyone to know about the good work that is happening in our community through the Abbotsford Food Bank & Christmas Bureau.

who-do-we-help

 

Let us introduce you to Laurel

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Ramada’s Toys for Tots 2015 – Best Yet!

Best-one-yetThe 3rd Annual Ramada’s Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast is receiving rave reviews and we couldn’t be more thankful!

A record 1,300 people attended, more than $26,000 raised and receiving over 1,300 toys. 

The morning included spirited Christmas Music, a visit from Santa, a top notch breakfast buffet, story time with Clifford the Elf, a festive craft corner and a photo booth to capture the magic of celebrating together.  One mother said – “This year’s Toys for tots was the best one yet! Staff were so helpful in getting us a table and the kids loved the story time and crafts.” – Heidi

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Toys for tots Raises More!

Our hearts are full of gratitude for everyone that came out to the 2nd Annual, Ramada’s Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast!  The event was a great success!  An estimated 800 people attended, raising  $14,000 in financial donations and over 1,100 toys were collected at the event..  The success of this event would not have been possible without the investment from our community.  We would like to thank first and foremost, Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre for their desire to create a wonderful event.  The conference centre was beautifully decorated, the food was amazing, and your volunteer staff was so friendly and helpful.

Thank you to Envision Financial for your investment in our community through the Full Cupboard program.  Your enthusiastic support and promotion of the event was invaluable. Your volunteers were so willing to lend a hand, they even stood in the pouring rain without complaint!

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Ramada’s 2nd Annual Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast

Ramada’s Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast

We are one week away! Ramada’s 2nd Annual Toys for Tots Christmas Breakfast is fast approaching.  November 28 from 6AM to 9:30AM is when the magic happens. Every item you donate shares the joy of Christmas and gives a child hope this holiday. This is the one Christmas event you do not want to miss! Bring a toy or $ donation and enjoy a free Buffet Breakfast. Don’t have time to stay? We thought of you! Drive by with your donation and receive a Tim Horton’s coffee & treat.

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