Our current total is: 60 TOYS | $390 raised
Can't make it down? Click here to donate online
Join us in person for Holiday Heroes! We're live on-location at Kenaston Walmart (1665 Kenaston Blvd) collecting new, unwrapped toys for the Salvation Army's Christmas toy program.
Last year around 8,500 kids got a present thanks to your generosity and the need is expected to be even higher this year.
We are on location from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 23.
A chance to win concert tickets
Everyone that drops off a prize will get to enter their name in the draw for some great prizes, including:
Paul Baloche Christmas Worship Tour tickets
Newsboys World Revival Tour tickets
Some gifts from Steve Bell
and more!
Make a financial donation
If you can't drop off a toy in person, a monetary donation goes a long way! These donations ensure our special helpers can fill in any gaps in toys, ensuring all age groups have enough toys on the shelves to fill the need, making it a Merry Christmas for everyone.
About the Salvation Army Christmas toy program
Each year, a gymnasium in the downtown core transforms into a one-stop shop that allows local parents and caregivers to shop for Christmas gifts for their kids, and it's all free thanks to the generosity of Winnipeggers and the Salvation Army.
"The Salvation Army runs a Christmas toy program through our Weetamah location," Kristin Marand from the Salvation Army says. "It is located right in the core on Logan Ave., and we offer a number of services through there. But one of our biggest ones is our toy program at Christmas, and registration is open right now. So, if there are families that are having a hard time this Christmas and need a hand up, they can register with us, and we'll set them up with an appointment."
The toys come from other Winnipeggers who generously donate new, unwrapped toys. This year, CHVN and the Salvation Army are partnering to gather toys for the program with Holiday Heroes, a special three-day event from Thursday, November 21, through Saturday, November 23. CHVN on-air personalities and staff will be live on location at the Kenaston Walmart (1665 Kenaston Blvd.) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, collecting your donations! Those who cannot make it down in person can also donate online to help more toys be purchased.
Families get to shop for free
Once families are registered for the program, they come down to Weetamah, where the team at the Salvation Army converts a gymnasium into a toy store each year leading up to Christmas.
The opportunity to come into the space and pick for themselves the gifts their children would like is one of the best gifts we can give anyone, Marand points out.
"It's nice to get a gift, it's nice to get help, but when you're able to have an actual shopping experience as well, there's a lot of dignity in that. It feels good all around, and who knows the kids better than the parents, right? They're going to know whether they're into superheroes, or colouring books and crafts, versus an outdoor activity or something like that."
Last year, the Salvation Army's toy store ensured that 8,500 kids woke up with gifts on Christmas morning. The year before that the number was 6,100. By partnering with CHVN, we're hoping to reach even more children this year. That's important because, as Marand points out, inflation has caused a strain on even more families.
Demand will increase significantly this year, and the CHVN family has the opportunity to help alleviate some of that demand. Please join us and help us bless local kids and families this year!
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