Christmas Program

ANGEL TREES

The Angel Tree program helps stock the SOS Toy Shop. Starting in November 2023, visit a local participating business and you’ll discover an SOS Angel Tree. The gifts listed on these Angels have been identified as “that one special gift” that a child or youth is hoping for. Purchase the gift listed on one of the Angel ornaments (or as close to it as possible), attach the Angel to your unwrapped gift and return it to the business location or to the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville to ensure it is included in the gift distribution. Please click here for a list of participating Angel Tree businesses 2022.

TO DONATE

Financial donations

Thank you for bringing joy to local residents this Christmas! Click on this link to make a donation with your credit card.

Alternatively, call 250-248-2093 during office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, closed for lunch from 12 pm – 1 pm), or come by the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville during those hours, located at 245 Hirst Ave. W. in Parksville and at Qualicum Commons, 744 Primrose St. You can call us at Qualicum at 250-752-2040. For your convenience, tax receipts for financial donations can be mailed, or we can issue the receipt at the time of donation drop-off.

Toy and Gift donations

Toy and gift donations can be dropped off at either SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville or Qualicum Beach during office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, closed for lunch from 12 pm – 1 pm). Or locate an SOS Angel Tree at a participating business/organization (see above), or attend an event benefitting the program!

REGISTRATION

Local families and individuals who need extra support this Christmas can register in-person at the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville beginning Nov. 2023 from 9:15 am – 11:30 am and
1:15 pm – 2:45 pm, Monday – Friday.  Please remember to bring:

• Photo ID for each adult (19 yrs+)
• Proof of residency
• Birth Certificates, Passports or Care Cards for children
• Proof of income from previous month,
  such as a bank statement or government-issued document

(Click here for examples of acceptable Photo ID)

VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT 

The deadline to apply to volunteer for the 2023 Christmas season is early November. For more information call 250-248-2093 ext. 230 or click here.

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. 246 for more information, or click here to learn more about Community Fundraising 

2022 COMMUNITY EVENTS BENEFITTING THE PROGRAM

• There are two ways to support the Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive in 2022:
  1. From Nov. 14 to Nov. 25, Mon. – Fri., bring a new, unwrapped toy, gift card or cash donation to Cedars Restaurant during breakfast hours, and receive a free Traditional Breakfast.
  2. On Nov. 30 from 6:30 am – 10 am, the Toy Drive Breakfast event will take place.  Come experience our community’s morning of giving! There will also be a drive-through donation drop-off from 7:30 am – 10 am.
• Silver Spur Toy Ride. Sunday Nov. 20. Horses and riders from the Silver Spur Riding Club will dress up for this festive occasion and parade down the streets of Parksville. Riders will leave Ballenas Secondary School at 12:15 pm and travel along Morison Avenue, heading up McMillan St. to the SOS Thrift Shop for a short break, before carrying on to Stanford Place (to visit with residents there), and then back to Ballenas along Hirst Avenue.
• Red Apple Toy Drive and Fill the Sleigh Day. Saturday Nov. 12 – Dec. 3. 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 Toy Shop. Red Apple donates 10% of the sales made on Fill the Sleigh Day (Dec. 3) to SOS. 

Please call 250-248-2093 ext. 229 or email coordinator@sosd69.com for more information about this program.