Mountains of presents took over the chapel at Our Place on Wednesday morning, each neatly wrapped and meant for someone special.
The Angel Gifts Program has run for over 15 years, and this year saw 700 gifts go out to Our Place patrons. Each year local churches, schools and community centres receive information about a particular person: their first name, age, gender and size, and purchase new gifts for them to pick up for Christmas.
B次元官网网址淚 think the best part is Christmas can be a really tough time for people that maybe donB次元官网网址檛 have contact with their family, or it can be a very lonely time and a tough time for folks,B次元官网网址� said Jordan Cooper, outreach manager at Our Place.
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Cooper has been part of the Angel Gifts program since he was a teenager, and said every year itB次元官网网址檚 an amazing experience.
B次元官网网址淭o see the happiness in their eyes when you give them a Christmas present thatB次元官网网址檚 for them , thatB次元官网网址檚 definitely the best part,B次元官网网址� he said.
For Garth Tufford, the gift gives him something to look forward to on Christmas Day.
B次元官网网址淥h no, IB次元官网网址檓 waiting to open this,B次元官网网址� Tufford said. B次元官网网址淭his is the only gift IB次元官网网址檝e got.B次元官网网址�
Paul Fenje, on the other hand, couldnB次元官网网址檛 wait to open his. He received a new fleece shirt, some socks, underwear and a knitted toque.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very impressive, it gives the recipients a sense of worth and a feeling of gratitude,B次元官网网址� Fenje said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very nice gesture on behalf of many people doing these offerings.B次元官网网址�
For Marco Chairez and Alicia Aguayo, the Angel Gifts Program represented their second year in Canada after seeking refugee status when they fled Mexico.
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B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e having our interview soon in Vancouver, but we already got our work permit,B次元官网网址� Aguayo said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e taking classes, ESL, and also classes on self employment and how to start or own little business, and in the future hopefully weB次元官网网址檙e gonna have our own food truck with Mexican food. ItB次元官网网址檚 a joy to be in Canada.B次元官网网址�
In the mean time the duo are trying to make ends meet, and the Angel Gifts help bring joy to the season, while highlighting the amazing staff and volunteers who organized them.
B次元官网网址淭his was the first place that opened their doors to us. When we arrived, we find the doors are open, and when we came inB次元官网网址� they said B次元官网网址榳elcome to Canada,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Chairez said. B次元官网网址淕od bless, IB次元官网网址檓 happy.B次元官网网址�
Aguayo agreed.
B次元官网网址淔or me itB次元官网网址檚 a blessing, and bless to all the good hearts, good souls, good people good community and keep blessing Canada,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 really important for us to receive a giftB次元官网网址� A gift, is just a gift, itB次元官网网址檚 a real thing. Thank you.B次元官网网址�
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