Our 2019 Toy Room has wrapped on another successful season. In total, 1341 women and 2855 children accessed Toy Room and received gifts to open during the holiday season, almost 4200 individuals! This was an 8.5% increase from the 2018 Toy Room.
All of this would not have been possible without our amazing donors, who organized toy and gift drives. And to every individual that dropped by with a toy or gift donation, whether a couple items or a car load. We cannot thank you enough for supporting the Women’s Centre community.
The hard work of almost 300 volunteers also made Toy Room possible. Our volunteers assisted women, as they chose gifts for themselves and their children. And volunteers helped sort the countless donations we received for the program.
Caitlyn, one of our amazing volunteers, worked extensively sorting all the toys and gift donations. She says, “The toy room at the Women’s Centre is one of my favourite places. Knowing what opening a gift on Christmas morning means to a child, I have a real sense of pride and joy in what I do, even if it is just organizing the boxes in the basement.
“It is a bittersweet feeling, seeing all the love and gifts that pour in, but knowing that it means there is that much need in the city. My parents have always taught me that you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. It may be small, but volunteering for the toy room is my way of being part of the solution at Christmas time. It can be such an overwhelming, emotional time of year for so many people and I often don’t know where to start. I know that my small part in helping this program run has a huge impact down the line.
“There is so much opportunity at the Women’s Centre to do small acts of kindness, which ideally, is what the world is run on. I can’t wait to be back for Toy room 2020!”
Thank you Caitlyn and volunteers like you for supporting Toy Room! And a huge thank you to all our sponsors, donors, community and everyone else who contributed to the success of Toy Room. Your generosity helped make the holidays a little brighter for women and their families. You’ve made a difference in the lives of women in our community.
We wish to thank and highlight our generous sponsors for organizing toy drives for the 2019 Toy Room Program. Thank you to:
- 127th Girl Guides
- 4 Seasons Transportation
- Alberta Council of Disability Services
- Alberta Ecotrust
- Alberta Health Services
- AHS-IHP
- Alberta Hip and Knee Clinic
- Alberta Medical Association
- Alberta Securities Commission
- Alzheimer’s Society
- Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association
- Ashley Cunningham
- Atco Energy Solutions
- B & A Planning Group
- Benevity
- Bennett Jones
- Beta Sigma Phi
- Beta Sigma Phi – Laureate Nu Chapter
- Beta Sigma Phi – Torchbearer Gamma Chapter
- Bishop and Mackenzie LLP
- Blush Lane
- BMO Downtown – 350 7th Ave SW
- Book Club
- Bow Valley Calligraphy Guild
- Broken City
- Bureau Veritas Laboratories
- Burns Memorial Fund
- BW Technologies by Honeywell
- Calgary & District Labour Council
- Calgary Buddhist Temple
- Calgary Canucks
- Calgary Costco
- Calgary Firefighters Toy Association
- Calgary Flames Foundation
- Calgary Flames Hitmen
- Calgary Flames Roughnecks
- Calgary Folk Fest
- Calgary Neighbourhoods
- Calgary Philharmonic
- Canadian Prairie Rose Progress Club
- Castle Toys
- Cathy Howarth
- Cenovus
- Cenovus Energy
- Centre for Sexualtiy
- Chevron
- CIBC (Varsity)
- Cineplex
- Compassionate Friends
- Consultant Group
- Costen Insurance
- Critical Mass
- Dalhousie Moms
- Dancing Storm Creations
- Daunais McKay Harms
- DBH LLP
- Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP
- Emily Ormerod
- Enbridge
- Ethan Allen Calgary
- F45 Marda Loop
- Family & Friends Toy Drive
- First on Site
- Forever 21
- Garda World
- GCCA Guyana Canada Cultural Association (Calgary)
- Graziano Investigation Services Ltd.
- GYMVMT (World Health and Spa Lady)
- Imperial Oil
- In Focus LLP Chartered Professional Accountants
- Indigenous Artist Group
- Integrated Sustainability
- IODE Mount Templar Charter
- Janet and Elaine
- Jupiter Resources
- Karen Dolan and Hunter Page
- KidsU Inc West 85th Campus
- KidsU Inc
- La Due Ladies Lunch
- Lauren Rubio
- Lazy Loomers
- Legal Aid
- Leyden’s Funeral Home
- Long View Systems
- Lululemon South Centre
- Marcy Craig
- Marlborough Home Depot
- McMillan LLP
- Mealan C. Mezzarobba
- Millenium EMS Solutions
- MQM Calgary
- My VIP Concierge
- Nancy VanDer Velden
- Northpoint Technical Services
- Petsmart Chinook
- Phoenix Technology Services
- Precision Sports Therapy Inc
- Project Landscape
- PSAC Calgary Regional Women’s Committee
- Public Service Alliance of Canada – Calgary Regional Women’s Committee
- Raleigh Family
- Rebecca Sulliva
- Revive Lifestyle Fitness
- RNDSQR
- Rotary Club Olympic
- Routine Cream
- Sales Experience Centre Marda Loop
- Sapphire Hair
- Scott Builders
- Scott Land & Lease Ltd.
- Servus
- Sharon Marthaller
- Sheraton Hotel Staff
- Shoebox Project
- Showhome Furniture
- Silver Springs Evening League
- Smith & Anderson
- Soap for Hope
- Source Energy Services
- South Calgary Community Church
- South Centre Mall
- Southern Alberta Revolution Softball
- Sparks Leader
- STARS Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service
- Summit Kids
- Suncor Energy Services
- Sunshine Crew/Trucks of Canada
- Susan Huvenaars and friends
- The Cinemates
- The Clothing Bar
- Trimac Transportation
- Trystan Kanm
- U of C Research Services Office
- UFUW (United Federation of University Women) CFUW Calgary North
- University of Calgary Chemistry Department
- University of Calgary Department of History
- University of Calgary Department of Social Work
- University of Calgary Research Services
- University of Calgary School of Public Policy
- Virginia Hamilton
- Waalflower Kitchen
- Westburne Group
Even though Toy Room has wrapped up for another season, we still need your support! We ask that you keep the Women’s Centre top of mind all year. We are always looking for donations of personal care items, and new and unopened toys for our Birthday Gift program. For information on how to donate, what you can donate and other ways to get involved, click here. Thank you. We look forward to another amazing year of building community.