Hundreds of people stopped by to donate Christmas toys for children in need in the Lower Mainland during this year’s annual Christmas Wish Breakfast at the Pan Pacific Hotel.
We even set a new record again.
“Last year we thought we had smashed all the records but this year we exceeded that by a very wide margin,” said Chris Bayliss, executive director of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.
“We have over 1,000 bikes come in today, 86 feet of tractor trailer space of toys, which extrapolates to over 17 tons, which is three times more than last year.”
Bayliss said they also received 216 gift cards and raised about $17,000.
The event has grown from its humble beginnings almost 30 years ago to one supported by numerous organizations around Metro Vancouver, putting a smile on children’s faces every year.
This morning, people filed in to drop off an unwrapped toy for the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, which helps children whose families can’t afford presents during the holiday season.
The toys started pouring in at 6 a.m. and the line-up of people wanting to drop off a gift only kept growing three hours later.
It went from a modest collection of toys…
…to a massive pile by morning’s end.
Last year, seven truck loads of toys weighing 40,000 pounds were hauled away.
READ MORE: A look back at the 2014 edition of the Christmas Wish Breakfast
Dozens of Vancouver firefighters were on hand to help out.
So was Santa.
Global BC Morning Show‘s new co-host Sonia Deol also stopped by to support her crew.
And celebrity guest and Canadian country singer, Madeline Merlo, took the stage to perform “White Christmas.”
In an annual tradition, the Pan Pacific Hotel offered a complimentary hot breakfast buffet for everyone who donated a toy.
Executive Chef Bob Wiles says they served about 10,000 sausages, 1,500 eggs and 5,000 croissants this morning.
A team of seven people prepared the food the night before.
“It was a long 10-hour day yesterday,” says Wiles. “We got up at 3 a.m. this morning and came down to the kitchens again to make sure it all went smoothly.”
Anyone who missed the event can still donate toys or cash to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.
Comments