It all comes down to people. For the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, there's people needing help, people offering help and people helping to bring them all together.
From volunteers in the toy room, to donors who drop off $1 or $1,000, from sponsors to staff, it takes a lot of people to pull off the campaign each year.
The Burnaby NOW is taking a closer look at just one of those people this week: SFU student Laura Wigman, who was inspired this year to donate to the bureau for the first time. Last week, she dropped off dozens of toys at the bureau's temporary location in Metropolis at Metrotown.
The bureau provides toys and food for low-income families in the city at Christmas
The NOW asked Wigman a series of questions about her involvement with the bureau, and here's what she told us:
Question: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Answer: My name is Laura Wigman and I am 24 years old. I am a part time student at Simon Fraser University, working toward my second degree, a bachelor of education, and working part time. I graduated from SFU October 2010 with my bachelor of arts with a major in history and a minor in English. I have been accepted into the Professional Development Program for teaching Elementary school beginning January 2012.
Q: Is this the first time you've been involved with the bureau? If yes, what inspired you to get involved this year?
A: This is my first time being involved with the bureau, donating and volunteering. I am volunteering in the toy room on Dec. 21. I am looking forward to assisting parents find the perfect gifts for their children, seeing the smiles on their faces, and delivering as much happiness during the Christmas season as I can. I do not have a lot of money, but I am fortunate enough to be a part of a loving and supporting family; I needed to help those less fortunate. I've also followed the bureau in the newspapers for several years.
Q: What are you doing with the bureau? Are you working on your own or with a team or other people?
A: This year I really wanted to get involved and make a difference. Christmas is about giving and, wanting to work with children and make a difference in their lives in my career as a teacher, I wanted to give what I could to bring a smile to a child's face on Christmas. Once I got started, the overwhelming feeling of joy and happiness was incredible. It bought such joy to me to know that on Christmas morning a child would receive one of my gifts put together from the heart. I worked by myself over the course of a few months putting together roughly two dozen individual presents ... I put together presents for boys and girls ranging from three to four years old - coloring books and crayons, dolls or toy motorcycles and fire trucks - to 13-14 years old - comic books, make up, card games, and puzzles; I also put together one pink themed and one blue themed basket for expecting mothers: each containing such items as wash clothes, story books, combs, and socks for baby.
Q: Why is it important to you to do this? Why did you choose the bureau?
A: I have lived in Burnaby my whole life and have always admired the work the Burnaby Christmas Bureau does for families during a loving holiday. I love seeing other people happy, and if I can assist in any way, I will do whatever I can, especially for a child and during the Christmas season. I am ecstatic to know that on Christmas morning, it will be one of my presents that a child receives.
Q: What would you say to others to encourage them to get involved with the bureau?
A: Not everyone is fortunate enough to enjoy a Christmas morning with presents, but all it takes in one donation, one present, and you could turn a child's Christmas into a beautiful memory. Any sort of involvement, a donation or volunteering your time, will make a difference.
For more ideas about toy donations, including a list of suggestions, see "Burnaby Christmas Bureau's toy list offers ideas for donors"
