Christmas Care on the Horizon by Peri Hayes
Raised alongside his four siblings, Christmas Care President, Richard Auckland, offers some of his earliest holiday memories: “My parents gave their time, talents and treasure to various community organizations, including our church, First United. Being with extended family and enjoying a meal was probably the thing that I enjoyed most. At Christmas Care, I hope that we can provide that anticipation for children on Christmas morning, and that the food gives the chance to have a good family meal.” “The organization is a group of dedicated volunteers who return year after year because they make a difference. This is a feel-good story for everyone – clients and those who give their time, their talent or their treasure. It is gratifying to see former clients get involved as volunteers. We all have rough spots in our lives, and accepting gifts to help you through is
not the end, but the beginning of something even better down the road. This is a team of which I want to be a part.” Christmas Care opens on Monday, November 3rd at 11:00 am. Registration begins on Tuesday, November 4th and — with the exception of Remembrance Day — will be ongoing from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays until Tuesday, December 9th. Distribution will be completed by Friday, December 19th. Richard encourages, “If you are planning a toy or food drive, we ask that we have all donated goods by Friday, November 28th. That way, items will end up in our hampers. Food that is not used goes to the Food Bank or other area organizations that deal with food security.” Richard invites, “If you have administrative skills and would like to assist with registration, connect with Rosemary Fife or Andreana Collins at the Arena. People interested in helping with our toy operations should connect with Vicki Snowsell at our mall location. Volunteers wishing to help with our food or distribution should connect with Pat Connor at the Arena Auditorium.” The Christmas Care phone number, 519-637-0710, is monitored throughout the campaign. Monetary donations can either be placed to their P.O. Box 20016, St. Thomas, ON, N5P 4H4 address, or through the christmascarestthomas.com website. Contributions of goods will be accepted at their Elgin Centre toy operation quarters, while the Memorial Arena Auditorium facilitates their registration, food donation and distribution centre. Richard expresses, “We are indebted to the Elgin Centre ownership and the City of St. Thomas for donating these spaces for our use.” “Having a wonderful Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Festivus (or holiday of your choosing) is our goal for all folks. In 2024, we positively impacted 3,767 individuals. We’ve seen an increase by about 25% since 2020. The generosity of our community -- be it service organizations, businesses or individuals -- is appreciated,” Richard emphasizes.
Page 24 Hometown St. Thomas • October 2025
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