Students and volunteers help sort toys donated to 980 CJME’s Santas Anonymous at the Regina Food Bank on Dec. 11, 2019. (Andrew Shepherd/980 CJME)
980 CJME’s Santas Anonymous is looking for your donations in order to help families in need this holiday season.
The program has been running for 53 years with the goal of giving a free gift to families who might not be able to afford Christmas gifts for their children.
With things like inflation driving up prices and emptying people’s wallets, Capt. Kristen Grey with the Salvation Army in Regina said they’re there to help.
“There are a lot of folks in need and we live in a time right now where it’s tough to make ends meet,” she explained. “We’re here to help anybody who needs it this year.”
She said many people take advantage of the program every year.
“We helped almost 2,000 families last year, which is made up of about 4,300 children,” she said. “That’s a lot of families who may not have had Christmas without the Santas Anonymous program.”
Donation boxes for Santas Anonymous can be found at various grocery stores and malls throughout the city.
Those planning on donating are asked to provide a new, unwrapped toy.
Janelle Browne, a former recipient of Santas Anonymous, said it has helped give her kids the Christmas they deserve.
“I wanted to make sure my kids have a Christmas,” Browne shared. “Times have been tough sometimes, so programs have been there to help ensure they get the Christmas they deserve.”
Browne said it was nice last year for them to be able to go out and pick a specific gift that their child would enjoy.
She suggested people who are in need of the program should take advantage of it.
“I would say definitely use the program. It’s there for when you need it and you might as well make use of it,” she said.
Those who are unable to donate a toy can also donate cash online.
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