The Holiday season provides a great opportunity for diverse communities to come together to make Christmas special for hundreds of families. A fantastic example of communities coming together is the Toys for Kids campaign by the Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen and Sikh Academy Elementary, who rally the Sikh community to collect and donate toys for children in need this Christmas. Toys collected in this campaign will directly benefit families supported by The Salvation Army, The Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Family, and New Westminster Family Place.
“Sikhs believe in “Sarbat Da Bhala”, meaning caring for all.” says Paul Singh Hundle with Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen. “It’s important during the Christmas season, to think of those less fortunate and make their Christmas much brighter”.
“New Westminster Family Place is very appreciative of the lovely toys that we receive from you for our families”, says Marjorie Staal, Executive Director of New Westminster Family Place. “Our parents are overwhelmed by the quality of the toys that come.”
Over the last several weeks, donors and volunteers have been working with local schools to generate lists and collecting toys at various Sikh Temples in the Metro Vancouver area. All the toys have been transported to the gymnasium at Sikh Academy in Surrey, where volunteers will gift-wrap 3,000 toys on Saturday, December 15, 2018.
The annual Toys for Kids campaign has donated over 23,000 toys over the last six years, providing thousands of families the opportunity to have a more enjoyable Christmas.
Date: Saturday, December 15, 2018
Time: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Sikh Academy Newton Elementary School, 12895 85th Ave, Surrey BC