COLD LAKE – A group giving Santa Claus a helping hand in collecting and distributing toys to all the good little boys and girls in the City of Cold Lake is celebrating a milestone.
Santa’s Anonymous has been running in the city for the last three decades. Originally started by the Northern Lights Lions Club, it has since been taken over by the Grand Centre Lions Club.
Volunteers come together each year to ensure local children from newborn to 14-years-old have gifts under their tree on Christmas morning.
In 2019, 125 families in Cold Lake signed up for the program that saw roughly 300 kids receiving gifts.
According to chairperson Armand Gagnier, Santa’s Anonymous anticipates the demand will be significantly higher this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents and businesses of the Cold Lake area have once again come together for the organization, Gagnier stated.
“Normally, every year we have a fundraising project, like we bring in entertainment and charge people $30 a ticket to come and see the entertainment. But because of COVID-19, we haven’t been able to have a project per se to raise money, so we’ve gone to the community and it’s just been a tremendous (response).”
As a result of the pandemic, Santa’s Anonymous is also offering an alternative means for parents to sign up. They can contact Gagnier, who will take down their information and ensure their presents are ready for pick up at their workshop, which is located at the Cold Lake Business Centre at 4910 50th Ave beside Domino’s Pizza.
Santa’s Workshop will be opened from Dec. 1 to 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and again from Dec. 7 to 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for sign-ups and toy pickups. Masks are required upon arrival.
Monetary donations are still being accepted, along with new unwrapped toys. Drop off locations are located at Lakeland Credit Union, Guardian Drugs in the Marina Mall, Bank of Nova Scotia, Guardian Drugs in the Tri-City Mall, Ardene’s, and ATB.
For more information or to sign up, Gagnier can be reached by phone at 780-573-5725 or by email at [email protected]. The parent’s identification and the children’s Alberta Health cards are required as forms of identification to sign up.
