Puzzles, cars, teddy bears, board games and more!
ISSofBC received 150 gifts for newcomer children this week thanks to the First Christmas in Canada Concert and toy drive held December 12 at the Vancouver Playhouse.
The concert, sponsored by the City of Vancouver and various immigrant serving agencies in Metro Vancouver, featured the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy and their special guest Vivace performing holiday classics such as Joy to the World, I’ll be home for Christmas and O Holy Night.
Over 400 guests attended the evening event and many donated toys for refugee and immigrant children to give during the holiday season.
During the intermission, City of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson got into the Christmas spirit handing out gift stockings to children attending including those from ISSofBC newcomer families in Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam and Vancouver.
Lourdes Hisola, ISSofBC Welcome House Coordinator is organizing the distribution of the gifts from the toy drive this week to ISSofBC locations housing refugees who recently arrived from Syria.
Thank you to the City of Vancouver for sponsoring this event and to all those who donated these special gifts for Christmas.
