Christmas Program

Society of Organized Services

Caring for Community at Christmas

The SOS Caring for Community at Christmas Program ensures local children and youth experience the magic of Christmas, and that adults and seniors also experience joy and dignity over the holidays.

With your help, we can make sure that local children and youth are filled with excitement when they wake up on Christmas morning and see a special gift waiting for them under the tree. SOS collects new gifts to fill the Toy Shop, where low-income parents, grandparents, and caregivers can shop for free. With your help, families, adults and seniors receive local grocery store gift cards so they can choose food that is meaningful to them over the holidays. Together we’re ensuring they have a good meal to share. Together, we’re helping create magic.

During the 2022 Christmas campaign, SOS provided grocery store gift cards to 1,021 local adults and seniors, and provided gifts for 1,041 children and youth.
 

ANGEL TREES

The Angel Tree program helps stock the SOS Toy Shop. Starting in November 2023, visit a local participating business and you’ll discover an SOS Angel Tree. The gifts listed on these Angels have been identified as “that one special gift” that a child or youth is hoping for. Purchase the gift listed on one of the Angel ornaments (or as close to it as possible), attach the Angel to your unwrapped gift and return it to the business location or to the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville to ensure it is included in the gift distribution. Click here for a list of participating Angel Tree Businesses (2023).

TO DONATE

Financial donations

Thank you for bringing joy to local residents this Christmas! Click on this link to make a donation with your credit card.

Alternatively, call 250-248-2093 during office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, closed for lunch from 12 pm – 1 pm), or come by the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville during those hours, located at 245 Hirst Ave. W. in Parksville and at Qualicum Commons, 744 Primrose St. You can call us at Qualicum at 250-752-2040. For your convenience, tax receipts for financial donations can be mailed, or we can issue the receipt at the time of donation drop-off.

Toy and Gift donations

Toy and gift donations can be dropped off at either SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville or Qualicum Beach during office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, closed for lunch from 12 pm – 1 pm). Or locate an SOS Angel Tree at a participating business/organization (see above), or attend an event benefitting the program! For Teen and Tween gift ideas click here.

REGISTRATION

Local families and individuals who need extra support this Christmas can register in-person at the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville (245 Hirst Ave. W.) beginning Nov. 15, 2023 from 9:15 am – 11:30 am and 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm, Monday – Friday. 

Evening registration for residents who can’t make it during the day will take place Thursday, Dec. 7 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm.

Please remember to bring:

  • Photo ID for each adult (19 yrs+)
  • Proof of residency
  • Birth Certificates, Passports or Care Cards for children
  • Proof of income from previous month,
    such as a bank statement or government-issued document

(Click here for examples of acceptable Photo ID)

VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT 

The deadline to apply to volunteer for the 2023 Christmas season is Oct. 31. For more information call 250-248-2093 ext. 230 or click here.

Residents can host their own fundraiser with the proceeds coming to SOS to support families and individuals in need through the holidays. Please call 250-248-2093 ext. 246 for more information, or click here to learn more about ways to support the SOS Christmas program. For information on Community Fundraising, click here

2023 COMMUNITY EVENTS BENEFITTING THE PROGRAM

  • There are two ways to support the Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive in 2023:
    1. From Nov. 13 to Nov. 24, Mon. – Fri., bring a new, unwrapped toy, gift card or cash donation to Cedars Restaurant during breakfast hours, and receive a free Traditional Breakfast.
    2. On Nov. 29 from 6:30 am – 10 am, the Toy Drive Breakfast event will take place.  Come experience our community’s morning of giving! There will also be a drive-through donation drop-off from 7:30 am – 10 am.
  • Kick off this Holiday season with kindness! From November 13-19, buy a Holiday Smile Cookie at our local Tim Hortons in Parksville to support your local community. 50% of proceeds will go directly to SOS Caring for Community at Christmas Program, while the remaining 50% go to Tim Horton’s Foundation Camps!
  • Silver Spur Toy Ride. Sunday Nov. 26, 2023. Horses and riders from the Silver Spur Riding Club will dress up for this festive occasion and parade down the streets of Parksville. Riders will leave Ballenas Secondary School at 12:30 pm, they will arrive at Arrowsmith Lodge at around 12:50 pm, then Standford Lodge at around 1:25 pm and then SOS Thrift Shop at about 1:50 pm. Riders will depart SOS Thrift Shop around 2:10 pm before heading back to Ballenas Secondary along Morison Avenue.
  • Red Apple Toy Drive and Fill the Sleigh Day. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Red Apple collects toy and cash donations over three weeks. The cash donations are rounded up to the nearest dollar and used to purchase gifts needed in our Toy Shop. Red Apple donates 5% of the sales made on Fill the Sleigh Day (Dec. 9) to SOS. 
    Please call 250-248-2093 ext. 229 or email coordinator@sosd69.com for more information about this program.

    Charitable Number: 107021537RR0001

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