The first-ever Children鈥檚 Wish Breakfast in the Fraser Valley generated a better-than-expected response Tuesday in 91原创 City.

Over 1,000 people showed up, donating over 2,500 toys, $1165 in gift cards, and $5,000 in cash donations.

鈥淔or 91原创鈥檚 first annual Children鈥檚 Wish Breakfast, the response from the community was unbelievable and encouraging,鈥� Mayor Ted Schaffer said.

The event was held at Newlands Golf and Country club.

Everyone who turned up between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to donate a toy or make a cash donation was treated to a complimentary breakfast prepared by the Newlands culinary staff.

Schaffer said the event will be held again next year.

It was the first time the event, which has been held in Vancouver since 1987 at the Pan Pacific Vancouver, has been held in the Fraser Valley.

鈥淭he annual event at the Pan Pacific takes care of the north side of the Fraser and there鈥檚 never been anything on the south side of the Fraser,鈥� Schaffer said.

鈥淪o with a trade area of over 500,000 people we thought it would be great to team up with Newlands and have a toy breakfast on the south side of the Fraser. This is a caring community.鈥�

There was live entertainment provided by local singers and musicians and a visit from Santa.

Volunteers from the 91原创 City Fire Department and the 91原创 RCMP were on hand to receive the toys on behalf of the Christmas Bureau.

After the event, the Christmas Bureau elves sorted the toys according to age and gender.

Last year, the all-volunteer 91原创 Christmas Bureau helped 759 families consisting of 1,700 children.

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In 2016, over 5,000 people donated 17 tonnes of toys to the annual event hosted by the Pan Pacific Vancouver, including 1,000 bicycles, 216 gift cards and over $17,000 in donations.

The Pan Pacific culinary team served up 18,000 eggs,12,000 sausages, 450 pounds of hash browns, 6,000 croissants and 3,000 muffins.

dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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