Secret Santa Returns to Action Bringing Toys and Food Baskets to Saskatoon Families – Saskatoon | The Canadian News

The Secret Santa Foundation launches its 38th annual campaign on Tuesday.

The effort aims to help less fortunate families in Saskatoon by providing toys and food baskets for Christmas.

Nicole Semko, a member of the foundation’s board, said last year was not a typical campaign with the COVID-19 pandemic, but that didn’t matter.

“It was completely virtual (in 2020),” Semko said.

“And in typical Saskatoon fashion, everyone stepped up and made a lot of monetary donations so that we could still fulfill our mission.

“Our donors and the community itself always step up to help those in need despite the challenges their own families may be going through, they always seem to find something extra to help someone else in our community.”

The campaign was founded by the late radio host Denny Carr, who wanted to make sure all Saskatoon’s children get a new toy for Christmas.

“It was started by Denny Carr, who, of course, was a very beloved radio personality here in town,” Semko said.

“And that simple idea is still going strong 38 years later and… now we have served more than 50,000 families and more than 100,000 children.

This year, Secret Santa is once again accepting new unwrapped toys for children in the community.

“Usually we make a minimum of 800 families, and that’s about 3,000 people, 1,000 of whom are children,” Semko said.

“Some families have had really tough times in recent years and even outside of COVID and the challenges that have impacted families in that way.

“And so, we really feel like we need to do our part in the community and we trust the citizens of Saskatoon and the outskirts of Saskatoon to help us do that and we are very grateful for that.

This year the distribution to families will be modified.

“Usually families will come and we distribute to our families just before Christmas on one day. This year, we will do it for three days just to be aware of the safety of our volunteers and families, ”said Semko.

“Starting December 16 … families will come to our location, our warehouse that we have on Miller Avenue and we will distribute it with volunteers and, I guess, in some kind of van on the sidewalk.”

People who wish to support Secret Santa can drop off toy donations at community partner locations within Saskatoon, Martensville and Warman.