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Each spring, Discovery Toys and their team work together with the community to create Easter baskets for kids in shelters or at the Ronald McDonald House.
"For the last decade, we've been collecting sponsorships leading up to Easter," says Tia Sunley, a play leader with Discovery Toys in Winnipeg. "Then we create a basket for each kid staying in 10 women's shelters across the province, Ronald McDonald House Manitoba, and we've added children and families utilizing Villa Rose and Dignity House."
Last year the group put together 300 Easter baskets and they are anticipating creating and handing out 325 baskets this year, or more.
"Each basket contains a toy from Discovery Toys and a book. We've had a lot of companies that have gifted us special items to put in there. Chocolate Easter bunnies, toiletries, and free pizzas from Domino's Pizza. 7-11 does slurpees. It's kind of like an all-around basket that encompasses more than just Easter treats."
Discovery Toys is hoping to have the communities help once again to make sure each child in these places can feel cared for this Easter.
"Each basket can be sponsored for $30," says Sunley. "That goes 100 per cent into the basket. If a family or a company wants to sponsor $100 or more we do a special recognition. Monetary donations are fantastic just because it allows us the flexibility to fill in the spaces that are missing. However, individually wrapped snacks are always great or reusable water bottles. Any companies out there that can help us with drawstring bags for the older kids."
Anyone interested in sponsoring a basket or donating funds or items, can connect with Sunley by call or text at 204-290-6897 or emailing her at tiasunley@gmail.com.
"I would love to give a really big thank you, especially for all the families that have reached out, including from this interview. They've made such a difference in these kids' and parents lives. Every donation and sponsorship makes a difference. We can't do what we do without the generous people."