Santa Comes to Bay Street

What: Santa's Workshop 9th Annual Gift Bagging Event

When: Monday November 19, 2012. 5:30‐9:30 pm

Where: Design Exchange 234 Bay Street, Toronto, ON.

TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Please join us on November 19th, 2012 at the Design Exchange for Santa's Workshop, Santa Comes to Bay Street 9th annual gift bagging event.

Come out and help us prepare individualized gift bags for over 1,500 women and children in shelters and outreach programs, in Toronto.

"The team at Santa Comes to Bay Street is dedicated to making each year better than the one before, and this year is no exception. We are projecting the best year to‐date for the Charity, with a record number of recipients." said Mary Matthews, co‐founder of SCTBS. "We really strive to provide more than just gifts for those in need. We want to provide a glimmer of hope for the future and show the recipients that their community cares."

"We have such a great team of volunteers that have helped to make our vision a reality. In the past nine years, we have come from helping only a handful of people to helping almost 1,500. I am thrilled to see the Charity grow." said Stephanie Orloff, co‐founder of SCTBS. "It is the drive of our volunteers which allow us to fulfill not only the wish list of the recipient but also to include many items of necessity too. We also can't forget the generosity of Bay Street. The corporate and personal donations make it all possible."

How it works:
1. Torontonians ("Elves") select families, or individual recipients, online at sctbs.ca, and help make their holiday dreams come true by purchasing their "Christmas wish" and bringing that gift to Santa's Workshop, on November 19, 2012, to be packed by you.
2. Additional necessities, (such as pajamas, toiletries, warm clothes etc…), are purchased by the volunteers at Santa Comes to Bay Street, using generously donated money. These additional items are added to your individualized gift.
3. The bags are then assembled and delivered to various shelters currently participating in Santa Comes to Bay Street.

This year Santa's workshop will be preparing gift bags and providing support for Nellie's (Women's Hostels Inc.), YorkTown Shelter for Women, North York Women's Shelter, Julliette's Place, Jessie's ‐ The June Callwood Centre for Young Women, WoodGreen Red Door Family Shelter, Ernestine's Womens Shelter, Society of St. Vincent de Paul: Amelie House and St. Clare's Residence, Rosalie Hall. Birkdale Residence, Deacon's Pantry Food Bank at St. Jude's - Wexford, Mary's Home Emergency Shelter, and Sister Mary Van‐Hee.

"Julliette's Place has been involved with Santa Comes to Bay Street from day one, if I did not have you to help me during x‐mas time there would be lot of women and children who will not have a single gift to open. This program is essential to my ex‐residents program. If nothing else they know that there is someone out there that is thinking about them, cares about them and will do that little bit extra to bring a smile to their face. The times are hard as we all know but when you are on fixed income it makes it even more difficult. I am very appreciative and as are all the women and children that receive the gifts during Christmas from Santa Comes to Bay Street. I wish this program continued success, as it is well needed during these hard times." ‐ Parveen Bhardwaj, Support and Outreach Worker, Homeward Family Shelter o/a Julliette's Place.

Santa Comes to Bay Street (SCTBS) is a not‐for‐profit community charity that has been helping families for the past nine years. SCTBS started as a grassroots organization and with the help of our many volunteers was able to grow into a registered charity. The charity is made up by volunteers only, and receives no outside funding. Last year SCTBS lit up the eyes of over 1,200 children and families, surprising them with gifts they actually desired but could not afford. This year we expect to bring smiles to almost 1,500 participants.

Image with caption: "Santa Comes To Bay Street prepares bags of gifts and necessities for those in need (CNW Group/Santa Comes to Bay Street)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121116_C8841_PHOTO_EN_20800.jpg

SOURCE: Santa Comes to Bay Street

Contact: Kris Backus
416‐624‐0987

Santa Comes to Bay Street
www.sctbs.ca
[email protected]
1230‐4 King St W, Toronto, ON, M5H 1B6