The Burnaby Christmas Bureau still needs donations in the last push before Dec. 25.
Gifts for teens, seniors and moms are most needed, to ensure no one is left out for the holidays.
The bureau provides local, low-income families with gifts and food for the holidays. Parents can peruse the bureau’s toy room and pick out gifts for their children. Isolated seniors can also sign up for a Christmas hamper, full of presents and food.
But Stephen D’Souza, executive director of Burnaby Community Services, said this year’s donations are slightly down, and the bureau needs cash to help fill hampers for seniors, gift cards for teens and presents for moms.
The teens like gift cards from places like Metropolis at Metrotown, electronics and clothing stores, and movie theatres, D’Souza explained.
“At this point our stock at that level of items is really small,” D’Souza said. “But gift cards work for most teens, so that would be great.”
The bureau is also seeking gifts for the moms who peruse the toy room, picking out presents for their child. The bureau has an area where they can pick up something special for the house, either Christmas decorations, cutlery or candles, for example.
The bureau accepts donations throughout the year, but anything given before Dec. 22 will be used this season.
“The donations are pretty much where we want them to be. They are moderately behind, but they are coming in rather quickly now. (People) are just realizing it’s Christmas and they are staring to give,” D’Souza said.
To donate, call the Burnaby Community Services at 604-299-5778 or go to www.burnabycommunity
connections.com.
