Chastin Martel
Lakeside Leader
A couple of Slave Lake businesses are helping out Santas Anonymous by holding toy drives.
Santas Anonymous provides Christmas food hampers and gifts to families in need. The gifts are for children aged zero to 18.
The Gifting Tree
The Gifting Tree is an initiative for our local Santas Anonymous program. The Slave Lake Native Friendship Center runs it.
“This is our third annual of doing it,” says Neika Smith, co-organizer.
The tree is at Grateful Heart Boutique in Slave Lake. Smith organized it with Barb Courtorielle, executive director of the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre and Nicole Caron of Grateful Heart Boutique.
According to Smith, she organized and created the gifting tree but she says, “it’s nice to include the business owners and managers in supporting the initiative.”
“Each ornament has a specific age and gender for you to donate a gift towards,” says Smith.
Donations can be anything a child in that age range might like for Christmas from toys to clothing.
“Last year was really, amazing,” she adds. “We had a pretty big turnout. We had 24 donations. The first year was a little smaller. But it’s been hard with inflation too.”
“You can donate by age,” adds Smith. “So people can just pick specific ideas for gifts towards those ages.”
Santa sleigh for Santas Anonymous
Lakeside Ford is also holding a gift drive for Santas Anonymous.
Renee Pelley, sales manager at Lakeside Ford, is one of the organizers.
Ford will hold its Santa Sleigh for Santas Anonymous on December 13 at Canadian Tire and Walmart starting at 5:30 p.m. until both stores close.
Ford will have one van and one truck at Canadian Tire and Walmart. The truck will be decorated with Christmas lights. They will be at each store collecting gifts for Santas Anonymous and donations for the food bank. Both are run by the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre.
If any people are wanting to donate sooner or after the date, they can contact Lakeside Ford at 780-849-4419.
The EMS Fill an Ambulance gift drive was held at the end of November.
Friendship Centre
Santas Anonymous also needs cash for food. People can donate directly to Santas Anonymous by dropping off cash, cheques or gifts at the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre (416 6 Ave. NE) during business hours.
