The clock is ticking: there are less than two weeks until family registration for the Burnaby Christmas Bureau closes, and less than five weeks till toys and food hampers will start being handed out.
Executive director Stephen D'Souza says the campaign is going relatively well, though they are slightly behind in donations, compared to their goal for this point. As well, there's additional financial pressure to ensure they meet their goals this year: a dramatic increase in clients, without a matching increase in donations, forced the bureau to dip into emergency reserves last year.
That means reaching their goal of $190,000 in financial donations is even more critical this year. So far, they're at about $67,000.
"We are completely focused on doing everything we can towards making sure we have a zero deficit this year," D'Souza told the NOW.
HELPING FAMILIES
The bureau provides toys and food for low-income families in Burnaby.
Here's what a few of those families said about their experiences with the bureau campaign:
"I really thank you for the toys from the Burnaby Christmas Bureau. My daughter was so happy when she got the toys. She has been here not for a long time, and she doesn't have so many friends here, so any toys would be her friends."
- Mo, mother of a 12-year-old girl, who registered with the bureau for the first time in 2010 after immigrating to Canada only months prior.
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"Without the Burnaby Christmas Bureau our children would not have the excitement on Christmas Day. My husband is in his fourth year at college to have a career, and I work part-time so I can drop off and pick up my kids from school. People should support the Burnaby Christmas Bureau to give others the joy that they need at Christmas time."
- Ariana, mother of four.
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"Thank you for this program. We are a low-income family. We hope our child has a good Christmas Day. - I think people should support it because so many families like us need this help. Thank you so very much!"
- Jun, mother of three-year-old boy.
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"My husband is the one working in our family. His salary is just about enough for monthly expenses. We cannot afford to buy our children brand new toys. It would surely make their Christmas so much more special. And the Burnaby Christmas Bureau can do that for our children. Thank you very much"
- Rana, mother of two
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"I am a single mom with MS and Chron's and recently have had to leave work, and without the help I would not make it this year."
- Charlene, mother of 3
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"I am a single grandmother with custody of my two grandchildren. I am on disability and cannot afford very much for my two grandchildren and would appreciate any help I can get, for the sake of my grandchildren. It can be so stressful at this time of year, just to put food on the table and buy presents for the kids."
- Margaret, grandmother of two
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"We came from the refugee camps where the kids had nothing - no toys, no games. So we are thankful to be here and have these opportunities to have this.
- Fadya, mother of three
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