For Barb Walter Venne, Christmas giving has come full circle.
The Vancouver resident has a childhood memory of someone helping her family during the holidays.
“My mom had become a single parent. There were two Christmases where somebody brought a box of goodies to us, and I obviously never forgot that,” she recalls.
She can’t remember who that person was, but she does recall the impact the gesture had on her as a child.
“It just felt like a little bit of extra Christmas. It was really exciting to get this box, and there were things in there that my mom would not buy. It was special,” she says.
Decades later, as the second vice-president of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Branch No. 44, Walter Venne oversees the thousands of dollars the group donates to community causes every year.
And each Christmas, Walter Venne makes sure the Burnaby Christmas Bureau is on the list of recipients.
The bureau, facilitated by Burnaby Community Services, makes sure children from low-income families have toys under the tree for the holidays and seniors are provided with hampers of food and gifts.
This year, Walter Venne signed the Legion up to sponsor three local seniors. Once the bureau matches her with the seniors, Walter Venne is responsible for calling them to find out their food preferences and wishes for Christmas. (The Christmas Bureau recommends spending $100 per person, or $200 per couple.)
Last year, she filled the hampers with fruit, nuts, gloves, socks, chocolate, and gift certificates to Starbucks and a grocery store.
“It’s wonderful. I love doing the shopping, it’s really fun for me, and I really put a lot of time and thought into it,” she says.
Walter Venne also delivers the hampers a few days before Christmas, and the seniors are always happy and grateful.
“It’s really a big deal for these people, and a lot of them feel alone, and when something like this comes it’s really heartwarming,” she says.
For Walter Venne, she’s passing on the Christmas kindness someone shared with her family, years ago.
“It’s really great to know that there’s someone out there thinking about you and the tough time you might be having,” she says. “Now, with my position at the Legion and being in charge of community donations, I have that ability to give back as well.”
Last year, the Burnaby Christmas Bureau helped 75 seniors.
“This year we hope to do more, but it’s not always easy to connect with those seniors most in need,” says Stephen D’Souza, executive director at Burnaby Community Services. “They are oftentimes feeling isolated and alone. So, we are asking the community to help us reach out to your neighbours, the elderly couple down the street, to any seniors who you think might be able to use a little extra Christmas cheer this year. Let them know we are here to help.”
To sponsor a local seniors or family this Christmas, go to www.burnabycommunity
connections.com or call 604-299-5778.
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