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Video: Angel Tree receives record support in a year with record need

The need for toys reached an all-time high this year, but the support for the Community Hamper Association’s Angel Tree program surpassed that need. The Angel Tree was set up at Walmart and Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse Casual from Dec.
Marsha Poole
Marsha Poole volunteered to help set up the Toy Store at St. Giles Anglican Church on Sunday night.

The need for toys reached an all-time high this year, but the support for the Community Hamper Association’s Angel Tree program surpassed that need.

The Angel Tree was set up at Walmart and Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse Casual from Dec. 5-15, and people dropped by with gifts of toys and cash, which could be used to purchase more toys. But there were also a number of toy drives during that 11-day span that also generated excellent support.

Char Seeman, who co-chairs the hamper association with Heather Woodhouse, said they couldn’t have asked for more when it came to the support of the community.

Nearly 800 toys were collected this year, and they were set up Dec. 16 at St. Giles Anglican Church in what is affectionately known as the toy store. Hamper recipients with a child or children could drop by Dec. 17 and 18 and pick up at least one toy to present as a Christmas gift.

“We couldn’t put it all in one room this year,” said Seeman.

It’s the first time they have had that problem when they have been at St. Giles. Last year the toy store was set up in the larger front foyer of the Estevan Fire Rescue Service building; Seeman doubts they would have been able to fit all of the toys in one room if the toy store was in St. Giles in 2017.

The association has received nearly 300 hamper requests this year, as of Sunday night, and more are coming in. Nearly 400 kids are covered by those hamper requests.

There was a toy drive through Your Toy Store with More on Dec. 11 and 12, with Murray GM and Power Dodge also serving as drop-off points. And another toy drive was held Dec. 13 and 15 at Canadian Tire, when people filled a fire truck and an RCMP cruiser with toys.

“After the toy drive this weekend, most kids are going to get two toys as gifts,” said Seeman.

They received close to $800 in cash donations at the Canadian Tire toy drive as well.

Those who opt to select a larger gift will get one toy, Seeman said.

“If you go for a $20 gift, you’ll get two $20 gifts, and if you get a $40 gift, you’ll get one $40 gift,” she said.

The hamper association also purchases stocking stuffers, which aren’t included in the total number of toys received. Those stocking stuffers would include toys, books, cosmetics and small toys such as Hot Wheels cars.

“We try to make it as normal for them as what you and I would buy for our kids and put in their stocking and give them as gifts,” said Seeman.

Seeman believes the support for the toy store has grown in recent years because of added awareness in the community.

“I think it has gotten out into the public a lot more, and I think people are realizing the need for it in this community, and I think that is why the support was so strong,” she said. “I think it’s just finally got to the forefront, and people are just so generous.”

Committee member Shelley Dayman added that without all of the donations, they wouldn’t have been able to meet the need from the growing number of families in need of a hamper at Christmas.

“We were struggling,” said Dayman. “It’s been great to have all those who wanted to do toy drives for us and with us. It worked out wonderful.”

The variety of toys was also excellent. There are a few toys they received lots of, but there weren’t many duplicates considering the volume of donations.