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Gift of giving: Quesnel holiday food and toy drive receives $3,000 donation

Donations supporting local families will be collected until Dec. 15
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A $3,000 donation was provided to a holiday food and toy drive headquartered at the West Park Mall by the Rotary Club of Quesnel, the Quesnel Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus. The donation to support the one month rent was in turn donated by West Park Mall to the drive. (Tracey Roberts photo — Quesnel Observer)

A holiday food and toy drive in Quesnel is already off to a great start, says organizer Coral Byrd.

The Rotary Club of Quesnel, the Quesnel Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus recently donated $3,000 to the cause headquartered at West Park Mall for one month’s rent.

West Park Mall, in turn, donated the funds to Byrd, who will use them to purchase non-perishable food and toys for the drive supporting local families accessing programs, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Child Development Centre, the Quesnel Women’s Resource Centre and the Amata Transition House.

“This year, with food security and so many families struggling, I’m sure there will be more families requesting hampers,” Byrd said, noting she intends to do up at least 100 hampers.

This is Byrd’s second year organizing a food and toy drive during the Christmas holidays. Last year a total of 61 families received a box of non-perishable food, laundry detergent, and a bag of bathroom essentials and cleaning supplies. Parents also selected two toys gift-wrapped by volunteers for each of their children.

The holiday food and toy drive will be available at West Park Mall until Thursday, Dec. 15. Drop-off locations are also at Westside Liquor Store, K-Max Games and Videos, Bo Peep Boutique and Butterfly Kisses by Nicki.

Byrd said she has challenged Quesnel mayor and council to participate in a reverse advent calendar with toys and non-perishable food items donated to the drive to count the days in anticipation of Christmas.

For more information on this year’s holiday food and toy drive contact Byrd at 250-255-9947 or email coralbyrd3@hotmail.com.



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