Ways to help:

• Donate to our Share A Christmas Campaign. Your money helps to buy fresh foods;
• Help us identify those in need who want our help; [Referral Form]
• Support our Teen Angel Program
• Plan a food drop or collection at your family, or business parties and arrange to transport the proceeds to Community Centre 55;
• Adopt A Family

  Our "Adopt-A-Family" program is a very special and intimate way of helping a needy neighbourhood  family at Christmas. In confidence, and with the permission of the "adopted" family, Community Centre 55 can match a family with service groups, companies, class rooms, offices, families and others.

Many families  are using the "Adopt-A-Family" program to compliment the Christmas Season by providing opportunities to their children to learn about the meaning of Christmas.

The corporate sector uses the Adopt A Family approach, because they can see where their money goes and can experience a return on their investment. The program is altruistic and offers a way to build teams, reinforce corporate ethics and to help with corporate imaging in the community, in a dignified and respectful way.

The cost of adopting a family is proportional to its size, for example,  a family of 5 is approximately $300. An adopter is asked to provide the level and quality of service that would have been offered by Community Centre 55 in our regular program. The adopter can customize the donation, but the generic hamper should include: one medium to large frozen Grade A turkey, 6 litres of 2% milk, bread, fresh fruits and vegetables (i.e. apples, oranges, potatoes, carrots, turnip, parsley, onions), desserts ( i.e. pie, candies), non-perishable foods (canned fish-tuna, salmon, canned meat-ham, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, cereals, sauces, spreads-peanut butter) and an age-gender appropriate toy for each child. The children of the adopted family dream, like every child, for one of the top 10 seasonal toys and this is market driven and difficult for us to recommend. Consider a gift valued at $75 per child.

It is of extreme importance that the Adopter not over or under achieve the recommendations of this program.

The adopter has the option of delivering the donation and Community Centre 55 can help you arrange it. Call Evonne at 416-691-1113 ext. 222 for details.

• Participate in our Bring Out Your Food program;
• Join our CanPaign. Use our money cans on your counter, bar or pass it around at your Christmas Party. Even better-take it Caroling;
• Volunteer to pick up, sort, pack and deliver;
• Watch for food drops at participating outlets i.e. Loblaws Victoria Park Market
• Collect Canadian Tire money for us.

To volunteer please call Nancy Culver at 416.691.1113 ext 224.

Shopping List

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Who was Virginia O'Hanlon and what did she ask?

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Share A Christmas Boundaries:

To achieve the best possible program and to ensure we have enough food and toys, we must define our service area. Our jurisdictional boundaries are:

• North of Lake Ontario
• South side of Danforth Avenue
• East of Coxwell Avenue
• West of Victoria Park Avenue

Other fun Share A Christmas related Activities:

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