The public can support the 91原创 Christmas Bureau and other local causes by dressing up and going to tea.

Tickets are on sale for the popular 91原创 Christmas Tea hosted by the Thank You for Caring Society on Sunday, Nov. 20.

鈥淲e are expecting it to be a wonderful event,鈥� said Charlene Fassbender, one of the organizers with the society.

鈥淭he Christmas bureau is our main priority for proceeds from the tea, but we felt as a committee we鈥檇 like to help some other groups,鈥� Fassbender said. 鈥淲e were focused on children and families at Christmas time, but want to be able to help during the year, if we hear of a need, including senior鈥檚 groups. This past year we gave to the Aldergrove Starfish Backpack program, The 91原创 Youth Hub, The Foundry and 91原创 Lodge Music Therapy program.

The event in the Cascades Casino ballroom features high tea, silent and online auctions, Steve 鈥楨lvis鈥� Elliott, speakers, and more. Tickets are $50 per person or $500 for a table of 10. Get tickets at .

鈥淲e will decide after our event this year, depending on our proceeds, who all we can support,鈥� she added.

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Bureau up and running

In the past, the 91原创 Christmas Bureau that distributes toys, books, and more to 91原创 children of needy families had set up in a large space in the community and provided the Christmas gifts to families over a three-day period.

This year the bureau could not find such space so 100 per cent volunteer bureau is adapting.

鈥淭he Toy Depot is being set up in the lobby of City hall in front of the finance department. It isn鈥檛 as big a space as in prior years but they will make it work,鈥� said Darrin Leite, the city鈥檚 director of corporate finance.

The City has provided administrative help for many years, and this year, it鈥檚 providing space. The City鈥檚 elected officials voted Monday to continue holding virtual council meetings until the new year so the bureau can make use of council chambers as well.

The reduced space means the bureau will change how it distributes the gifts.

鈥淩ather than condensing the Toy Depot into three days the bureau will extend the period over three weeks so that they don鈥檛 have crowds of people all at once. That means the bureau has a lot more volunteer shifts to cover (120 in total),鈥� Leite noted.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact the bureau at 604-530-3001. Toy Depot days run Nov. 28 to Dec. 15.

Some of the traditional events that brought in toy donations aren鈥檛 possible this year, such as the breakfast at Newlands. So the organizers are working to find other opportunities, such as the new Christmas Festival at the Timms Centre on Dec. 3 and 4. It replaces the Magic of Christmas Parade which became too costly.

People can also contact the bureau to arrange for toy and monetary donations through the website or by calling 604-530-3001.

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鈥� READ MORE: Bureau鈥檚 Christmas gifts include books from 91原创 Literacy Association

鈥� READ MORE: LETTER: Municipal election may be over but people鈥檚 energies still needed for community groups

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