Shop of Wonders brings joy and relief to countless families in Lethbridge by providing toys and gifts to children who might otherwise go without.
MyCityCare creates a magical experience transforming a space into Santa’s workshop, where families can select gifts for free. This space is beautifully decorated with trees, ornaments and lights, parents are served refreshments and given time to select gifts for each of their children. Those gifts are carefully wrapped by a team of “Santa’s Elves.”
“This year, we’re projecting to help over 1,400 children to ensure no child in our community misses out on Christmas magic. We cannot do this without the support and generosity of businesses, groups and individuals in our community,” says Program Coordinator Tanya Lister.
Appointments can be booked starting next week for families to come through the shop and choose gifts for Christmas. “To get a little joy and a little bit of relief this year for the Christmas season,” adds Lister. The shop is intended for children and teens aged zero to 17.
Setting up the Shop of Wonders takes a whole team of volunteers to decorate the space to get it set up and going. “For our program, we reach out to our community looking for lots of different ways people can donate and give to us. That’s how we keep this program up and running, is that love and support from our community,” says Lister.
Financial donations, as well as donations of new unwrapped toys and gifts are amazing, notes Lister. “We have stuff on the shelves right now, but remembering hundreds of presents will move out of this space every single day. The need will continue right up until the end of the program.”
Shop of Wonders, located at 640 13 Street North, runs from Nov. 18 until mid-December.
Visit mycitycare.ca to register for the Shop of Wonders program, for volunteer information or to make a financial donation.
According to Lister, toy and gift donations can be dropped off starting next week in the afternoons and evenings between 1-8 p.m. “Once we hit December, they’ll be able to drop them off anytime during the day or evening. We also take donations at our office Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
