The Qualicum Beach Newcomer’s Club fills Christmas stockings and gift bags with small gifts like soaps, toques, ornaments, socks, books, and handmade gifts. SOS Volunteers deliver the Christmas stockings and gift bags provided by the club to local residents (aged 65+), who are isolated or without close friends or family, and are SOS clients. Supplies are limited.

Our Caring for Community at Christmas program volunteer campaign is ramping up. We are looking to recruit new volunteers for the 2025 Christmas program. Please reach out if you are interested, the deadline to apply to volunteer for the 2025 Christmas season is Friday, October 10, 2025. For more information call 250-248-2093 ext. 230.

 CARING FOR COMMUNITY AT CHRISTMAS PROGRAM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

 Administration – Fast and accurate data entry of client registration details into a database.

 Registration – Connecting with clients in person to register them for our Christmas program.

 Reception and Grocery Gift Card Distribution – Greeting and signing in clients. Distributing Grocery store gift cards to registered Christmas program clients.

 Toy Sorting – Sorting donated toys to be distributed to Families/Guardians/Grandparents through our Toy Shop.

 Angel Tree – Drop off tree tags at community businesses. Pick up donated toys from businesses and delivering them to SOS.

 Toy Shop Elf – Working one-on-one with clients in the Toy Shop and supporting them while they select gifts for their children and grandchildren.

 Community Events– Attending Community fundraisers such as the Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive helping with toy collecting and other tasks.

 Co-Chairs – Looking for a little extra responsibility, supporting the program with setup/take down, organizing volunteers and ensuring everything is running smoothly.

 Setup/Tear-Down – Unpack boxes from storage and set up shelving for our Toy Shop.

 Christmas Stocking Delivery – Deliver donated Christmas stockings to isolated seniors in District 69.

Host your own fundraiser:

Residents can host their own fundraiser with the proceeds coming to SOS to support families and individuals in need through the holidays. Please call 250-248-2093 ext. 230 for more information, or click here to learn more about ways to support the SOS Christmas program. For information on Community Fundraising, click here.

1. Holiday Wreath Facebook Auction

1. Tim Hortons Smile Cookie

For a third year in a row, Tim Hortons Parksville has chosen SOS to receive 50% of the sales from their Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie campaign from November 17-23. (The other 50% goes to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps). We are coordinating bulk pre-orders of cookies for businesses and organizations that want to show their support for our Christmas program while at the same time treating their clients or employees to a box or boxes of holiday cookies. Click here for a Bulk Pre-order form: SOS 2025 TH Smile Cookie Pre-Order Form-Fillable. Complete this form and either drop it off at Parksville Tim Hortons or email it to timhortons102514@timzone.com no less than 48 hours of your specified pick-up date & time. Please note, cookies need to be paid for upon pick-up of order. Thank you for your support!

2. Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive – Wednesday, November 26, 2025

a. The Main Event:
Join us on Wednesday, November 26, 6:30-10 am, at the Walbran Ballroom and Cedars Restaurant for the Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive. Participants are invited to drop off new, unwrapped toys, gift cards, or monetary donations and enjoy a complimentary breakfast.

b. Drive-Through Option:
For those unable to attend the breakfast, a convenient drive-through option will be available at the entrance on November 26. Simply drop off your donation and receive a coffee and muffin to-go.

c. Pre-Event Option (November 12-25):
Avoid the crowds by participating early! Between 7:30 am and 11:30 am, Monday to Friday, bring your donation (new unwrapped toy, gift card, or cash) to Cedars Restaurant and enjoy a complimentary breakfast. Reservations are highly recommended.

3. Thrifty Foods is a Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive drop-off location – Drop off a toy early at Thrifty’s and enter to win a Thrifty’s Gift Basket!

From November 1 to 12, drop off a new, unwrapped toy, donate a Smile Card, or non-perishable food item at Thrifty Foods and receive a ballot to enter to win one of two Thrifty Foods Gift Baskets valued at $200 each!

Your donations will help fill the SOS Toy Shop—where parents, grandparents, and caregivers can shop for free—ensuring every child in our community has gifts under the tree this Christmas.

4. Holiday Walk with Santa, his Reindeer and Crafters Market! – Thursday, November 27

Join Berwick Parksville on Thursday, November 27 from 4:30–7:30 p.m. for a free, family-friendly evening with Santa photos, reindeer, ponies, holiday lights, and a festive Crafters Market. Enjoy warm treats and seasonal cheer while supporting SOS and the local Food Bank.

5. The Silver Spur Toy Ride – Sunday, November 30

• Sponsored by Thrifty Foods in Parksville, Horses and riders from the Silver Spur Riding Club will dress up for this festive occasion, celebrated this year at the Coombs Fairgrounds!
• Thank you to Thrifty Foods for sponsoring this magical holiday event!

6. Red Apple Toy Drive and Fill the Sleigh Day – Saturday, December 6

• Red Apple collects toy and cash donations over three weeks. The cash donations are rounded up to the nearest dollar and used to purchase gifts needed in our SOS Toy Shop. Red Apple donates five percent of the sales made on Fill the Sleigh Day to SOS.

Consider making an In Honour donation this holiday season to celebrate someone special. By giving the gift of giving, you can donate to SOS in their name and download a special card to let your honouree know about this meaningful contribution.

Click here to make an In Honour donation by completing the Dedication Information section. You can also download a special card to let your honouree know that a donation has been made to SOS in their name. Download your In Honour card here: My Gift for You