880 CHED Santas Anonymous
The mission of 880 CHED Santas Anonymous is simple: to see every child receive a new toy at Christmas. Since Jerry Forbes founded the charity in 1955, that mission has stayed the same.
Relying on thousands of volunteers and donors, 880 CHED Santas Anonymous now collects, sorts, packages, and delivers toys to over 25,000 children every year.
More than 60 years ago, 1080 CHED’s production manager Jerry Forbes felt compelled to start Santas Anonymous. Jerry worked his way up at CHED, eventually becoming the station’s general manager after it moved to 630 on the AM dial. Jerry spent 28 years at CHED, retiring in June 1981. He passed away in September 1981.
In the years since, the board, staff, and volunteers of 880 CHED Santas Anonymous have carried the torch, with generations of Edmontonians fulfilling Jerry’s dream:
“Wouldn’t it be great if there would be no needy kids and every kid had a present? Not a used present — with wheels stuck on and repainted — but a brand new present. From that modest start we said, ‘Well, let’s do it.’ So we went ahead and for the first few years we ran it up on the second floor here just with my staff and from there it just grew and grew.”
December 1 is Santas Day on 880 CHED. It’s been a difficult year for many, and the need is greater than ever. We need your support to ensure that every child in Edmonton has a present this Christmas.
Please donate to 880 CHED Santas Anonymous at santasanonymous.ca or by calling Santa’s helpers at 587-855-1821. The phone lines will be active from 7am – 7pm on December 1.
READ MORE: 2019 Delivery day for 880 CHED Santas Anonymous
There are many ways to get involved:
Be somebody’s Santa and drop off a new, unwrapped toy – donation locations are available year-round.
Monetary donations allow us to purchase books and toys that are needed when Santas Depot is running low.
It takes over 12,000 volunteer hours to Deliver the Spirit of Christmas in Edmonton. Find out how you can help!
Delivery Days are Saturday, December 12, 2020 and Sunday, December 13, 2020.
Check out these pictures from 630 CHED Santas Anonymous Delivery Day last year.
Learn more about 880 CHED Santas Anonymous here