Santa came to town a bit early to help local kids have a happy holiday.
Community members supported two local organizations that were the recipients of donations at Wednesday’s Christmas for Kids toy drive and pancake breakfast at the Paddlewheeler Pub at River Market. New Westminster Family Place and the Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families divvied up the donations and will disperse them to folks involved in their programs.
“It really, really helped us,” said Family Place executive director Marjorie Staal. “We couldn’t have had a Christmas party without the toy drive.”
Fire Chief Tim Armstrong and Police Chief Dave Jones attended the toy drive, as did several off-duty firefighters who volunteered their time. Firefighters accepted the toy donations and placed them under the tree.
“We are very grateful. We really, really appreciate their help,” Staal said. “The Paddlewheeler, as usual, was excellent. The food was really good.”
In past years, the chamber of commerce organized the event, but Family Place and the Purpose Society were charged with hosting this year’s event. The Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Association signed up as a partner in the event.
“They paid for the food,” Staal said of the BIA. “The pub donated the space and the staff.”
Santa (a.k.a. Calvin Donnelly) joined in the festivities and handed out candy canes to the breakfast crowd.
