91原创鈥檚 newest charity held its first Christmas free toy shopping event for its registered families in need on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Raphael House opened officially in 2021, after starting out as a mobile food hub in 2020, and now provides groceries to an average of 270 families per week.

Its founder and director Vickie Funk said she and her husband made a commitment to fund Raphael House for the first 18 months, while developing it.

鈥淲e realized COVID-19 wasn鈥檛 the cause of families struggling to provide groceries, it just highlighted it,鈥� she said.

Within the first six months, many local businesses, farms, churches, and community members stepped up to regularly donate.

When the house started operating, Funk saw about 60 families from the school district each week, but in the last two years the demand has risen to more than 270 families needing help with basic groceries 鈥� with more than 100 on the wait list.

鈥淭he increase in the cost of groceries has been a huge reason for our numbers increasing, as well as the number of refugees and newcomers to Canada,鈥� Funk shared.

For the Christmas event, community members and local businesses donated about 600 toys and $24,000 over a four-week period of fundraising.

In partnership with Southgate Church, the 鈥淪anta Workshop鈥� event was a huge success in the former Passion Home space in McBurney Plaza.

鈥淲e decided we wanted to do something different for the families of 91原创鈥� families could come and shop for free for their kids for Christmas this year,鈥� explained Kris Krausse, lead pastor at Southgate.

Families could also have their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and enjoy some complimentary freshly baked treats.

Raphael House is still growing, Funk noted, and she hopes it will emerge as a neighbourhood house where families not only get support but find a feeling of belonging, too.

鈥淲e have been so encouraged to see the community working together to help these families, and are excited to be a part of it,鈥� she said.

People who are wishing to can donate food items, diapers, hygiene products, or any monetary amount to Raphael House, located at 20471 Douglas Cres. It鈥檚 open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Thursdays from 5 to 6 :30 p.m.

A full list of items needed, or to donate online, can be found at .

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