The Burnaby Christmas Bureau is gearing up for another season of giving, and organizers want local residents to help decorate the toy room, where low-income families pick out gifts for their children.
Burnaby Community Services runs the bureau, which supplies low-income families and seniors with gifts and food for the holidays. Stephen D'Souza, executive director at Burnaby Community Services, wants to turn the toy room into a "winter wonderland" for families.
"It's really about having the community in. The community has always been about helping the Christmas Bureau and the seniors," said D'Souza. "It's to make the space as welcoming for the families to use it."
The open house decorating event is on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. The toy room is at 7252 Kingsway, and registration for families and seniors opened on Saturday.
"The space has been donated by the City of Burnaby, and we are grateful for that," D'Souza added.
Roughly 30 people from the Burnaby Vega office will be there to help. Shannon Cotram, an office administrator with the Burnaby-based health supplement company, said staff wanted to help a local cause.
"Especially if it is involves little children," she added. "We want to do anything we can to help this Christmas. We really love to contribute."
The Burnaby Christmas Bureau relies on volunteers and community donations of cash and toys. For more information on how to register or donate to the bureau, go to www.burnabycommunityconnections.com.
