Breakfast was served with a side of community spirit on Tuesday morning at the second annual Children鈥檚 Wish Breakfast in 91原创.
People of all ages dropped off gifts and donations for the 91原创 Christmas Bureau in exchange for a complimentary breakfast served by Newlands Golf & Country Club staff.
For one grandmother, the breakfast provided a good learning opportunity.
Sharon Rajala enjoyed a meal with her grandkids to 鈥渙pen their eyes to what鈥檚 going on in their community.鈥�
鈥淲e wanted to give the grandchildren the idea that they give, and not always receive.鈥�
Another guest, Michelle Stephen, also brought her two children for a 鈥渓earning lesson.鈥�
鈥淚t showed them to give a gift to another child in the community. I thought it鈥檇 be a good learning lesson for them, and to celebrate the holidays as well.鈥�
While the community enjoyed the pancakes and bacon, Santa and Mrs. Claus were dropped off in an RCMP helicopter, entertainers performed holiday songs, kids played in a snow machine, the 91原创 City firefighters and Mounties helped pack gifts, Sky Helicopters long-lined a crate of gifts in, and volunteers kept everything running smoothly.
Last year鈥檚 event drew roughly a thousand guests, according to Newlands general manager Vonda Dickman.
鈥淲e鈥檙e blown away by the response this year. Last year we had roughly 1,000 people here and I鈥檓 thinking we have at least a couple thousand [this year]. We鈥檙e really blown away by the generosity of the 91原创 community and the Lower Mainland. It鈥檚 going to mean so much to the Christmas bureau.鈥�
Dickman said the final number of attendees, gifts, and donations will be announced once the Christmas Bureau packs up all the gifts.
鈥淚鈥檓 easily saying we鈥檙e doubling [guests] this year.鈥�
And with more people, comes more donations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely exceeding last year,鈥� Dickman added.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have enough room for all the toys that were brought in.鈥�
Newlands鈥� co-owner Judy Davies was inspired to launch the event after attending the Christmas Wish Breakfast at the Pan Pacific in Vancouver for years.
Guest Linda Marconato attended this year for the first time, and was pleased to see a similar event in her 91原创 community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so nice to see this kind of event outside downtown Vancouver, so we can actually participate as well. The energy is fabulous. It鈥檚 a great way to pull the community together.鈥�
Last year鈥檚 breakfast collected 1,200 gifts, and raised $4,000.
