Abbotsford – The Archway Toys for Tots Christmas Brunch, presented by the Clarion Hotel, marked another outstanding year of community generosity, supporting children and seniors in need during the holiday season. Archway Community Services is pleased to announce that the event raised over $52,000 and collected 1,954 toys for the Archway Christmas Bureau.
Over 1,200 guests attended the 13th annual event, enjoying a delicious buffet brunch, lively local entertainment, and festive photos with Santa.
“This event is so special. It’s our community coming together to kick off the holidays in the true spirit of Christmas,” said Rebecca Thuro, manager of food security at Archway.
“Every dollar goes towards ensuring local families can experience the comfort and joy of the season.”
This year’s event welcomed back Cliff Prang as the charismatic emcee, while musical performances by Cambree Lovesy, Ryan McAllister, princesses, along with the high-energy Abby Senior Drumline and Abby All-Stars, kept the crowd entertained throughout the morning.
A new highlight this year was the chance for guests to get an up-close look at the Calder Cup, proudly won by the Abbotsford Canucks back in June. Guests were thrilled to view the championship trophy and snap photos with the iconic piece of hockey history.
Once again, local community champions Jasmit Singh Phulka and Rajin Gill spearheaded a toy drive throughout the month of November, delivering an entire truck load of toys during the event.
“We are beyond grateful to the Clarion Hotel & Conference Centre for once again hosting this cherished community event and to all of our amazing sponsors whose commitment to giving back reflects the true spirit of our community,” said Cindy Walker, manager of philanthropy at Archway.
“To every individual, family, and business that donated toys or made a financial contribution, your kindness will bring joy to children and seniors across Abbotsford. The impact of your generosity exemplifies the power of giving and the spirit of the season.”
The event’s success was made possible by the support of community sponsors such as platinum sponsors Varing Marketing Group and Parmar Advisors Inc.
Behind the scenes, volunteer coordinator Kourtnie Sohl brought together 100 volunteers to manage setup and takedown, including many representatives from youth sports teams, community groups and event sponsors.
Donations collected from Toys for Tots will help stock the Archway Christmas Bureau Toy Room, ensuring that more than 1,500 children, 600 teens, and 230 seniors receive gifts.
The toy room, hosted by Sevenoaks Alliance Church for the fifth year in a row, provides parents and caregivers the chance to browse and select the perfect gift for their loved ones.
This year, more than 1,300 families have applied to the Christmas Bureau in hopes for extra support during the holidays. The food bank is committed to helping every family experience the magic of Christmas but is uncertain whether it can meet the growing demand without additional help from the community.
“Without a break in the high cost of living, more people in Abbotsford are experiencing food insecurity than ever before. To address this growing need, we are working toward raising $1.3 million before year-end to ensure we can continue supporting people with food during some of the hardest times of their lives,” shared Thuro.
With so many hit hard by the economy, support over the holidays is needed now more than ever.
Individuals seeking assistance from the Christmas Bureau can call the Archway Food Bank at 604-859-7814 or visit AbbotsfordFoodBank.com/christmas-bureau/
Those who were unable to attend Toys for Tots can still drop off new, unwrapped gifts at the Archway Food Bank at 33914 Essendene Ave. or make a financial donation at AbbotsfordFoodBank.com/donate-t4t
