Heather MacKay sees some of the best parts of the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, but she also sees the most heart-breaking.
The Burnaby resident volunteers to deliver gifts from toy drives to the bureau’s toy room on Kingsway, and she also delivers hampers to people in need.
“You feel like, ‘Wow, people can be really generous. They can put together an event and put together a whole lot of stuff that will make kids happy,” she says of the toy pickups.
“Delivering the hampers is harder. You have to come up against the people who really have needs. They have very little, but they are extremely grateful. Sometimes they are embarrassed. They can’t believe how generous people can be, and they are also embarrassed because they have the need. Sometimes it just makes me cry, because these people are falling through cracks.”
The bureau helps supply low-income families with toys and food and gives isolated seniors holiday hampers. MacKay got involved as a volunteer driver last year, and she’s seen people who need help.
“The government’s expecting the community to pick up the slack,” she said. “There’s stuff for seniors, but if you’re not a senior … you’re in the middle there. Those people aren’t getting anything.
By volunteering, MacKay feels she can at least help and encourage others to give to the bureau.
“I feel better that I’m doing something, and it also keeps me aware that this sort of thing is out there. We all pretend that everyone is happy and wonderful, but for me, it brings me face-to-face with the need out there, and it reminds me that I have to do my part, whether it’s becoming politically involved or bugging governments or that sort of thing,” she said.
To donate to the bureau, go to www.burnabycommunityconnections.com or call 604-292-3902.
