Christmas Bureau opens: Call is out for teen gifts

Shelves designated for teen gifts at Mission Christmas Bureau need some help. Please give generously.

 

Oh what fun it was with Santa, Mrs. Claus, District of Mission Council, MCSS board members, Bureau volunteers and media on Nov. 12 for the soft opening of the Mission Christmas Bureau – Wish Campaign at its Mission Junction Shopping Centre location next to The Source.

Treats and coffee were provided by Mission Junction Starbucks and representatives from Festival of Trees, Mission City Pizza and Boston Pizza were there to listen to the campaign speeches.

Most urgent request was for help was for teen gifts where the shelves were almost bare.

In her official greetings, Mission Mayor Pam Alexis thanked Mission Community Services (MCSS) for the “work you do for the so many vulnerable in our community year after year. The Christmas Bureau is an amazing machine and it is good to see the support. Whatever council can do to help promote the bureau, please let us know. This community is extremely generous when there are dire circumstances and everyone rallies … and they always have. We are looking forward to seeing you all the fund-raising Rotary Carol Festival this year, held a little later in the year this time. Thanks again to Mission Community Services for yet again rising to the occasion and helping those in need.”

MCSS executive director Michelle Puffer praised Christmas Bureau coordinator Mika Brosseau for the work she does year-round to get the bureau to the finish line each year to provide a meal that someone may not otherwise have or toys for children.

“I hope this is another phenominal year for all those in need,” she said.

MCSS board chairman Bob Ingram said he is surprised by number of requests for children’s hampers and families, and expressed appreciation to those who support the Christmas Bureau. “It’s through your involvement and participation in the bureau that makes all of this possible and it allows us to give a warm Christmas to others.”

Bureau coordinator Mika Brosseau said she could not do her job without “my wonderful volunteers.”

“Our first week has come and gone and 77 children are registered so far and this amazingly high. Forty-four food Christmas hampers are requested and I expect 600 more. I guess we would be helping 500 kids this year and we might have more.”

Brosseau said her biggest cryout is for teens. With support for Teens for Teens fundraiser involving two schools and a church, some $5,000 in toys are raised. Brosseau said those teens will be thanked at a special pizza party in December, with support from Mission City Pizza.

A special feature at the donated Bureau headquarters at Unit 142 at the Junction Shopping Centre, next to The Source, are tables of donated goods children can select as gifts for their parents.

All details about hamper registrations, donations, Bureau hours of operations can be found HERE on the MCSS website.

Watch MCSS Facebook for dates of Christmas Bureau fundraisers, including Festival of Trees, Firefighter campaigns, WestCoast Express Santa trains, choir festivals, local community and business campaigns, the Candlelight Parade and so much more.

https://missioncommunityservices.com//christmas-bureau