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More than 450 pairs of children’s socks, pajamas, underwear, mitts, toques and other items were collected over the past two months through local four-year-old Shael Davidson’s Christmas charity “Shael’s Socks from Santa”.
Since October, donation boxes have been set up at various local businesses, with each collecting dozens upon dozens of items which will be given to local children this week.
Other items such as DVDs, toys and toothbrushes were also donated, and all items will be placed into Christmas hampers from the Crowsnest Pass Food Bank and Women’s Resource and Crisis Centre, which will be distributed to local families in need by local firefighters.
Shael’s father Mike Davidson said he was surprised and excited to see the outpouring of support from the community, including several local businesses.
“It started out as Shael’s project, but it really became a community project,” said Davidson.
In addition to donations from individuals, Shael’s Socks received a $100 donation from employees of Devon Canada’s Coleman plant, toothbrushes from Crowsnest Dental and several pairs of pajamas from Teck. |
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“I think people want to give at this time of year, and this was something that people identified with,” said Davidson.
Davidson also noted the success of the free showing of “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” at the
Orpheum Theatre in Blairmore on Saturday, December 10th, which pulled in several donations for the Women’s Resource and Crisis Centre’s Coats for Kids and Christmas Toy Hamper programs.
“The movie was a complete success,” said Davidson, noting that three industrial sized garbage bags were filled with donated gently-used children’s snow pants and winter coats, in addition to countless high-quality toys which were donated.
“That really made a difference for the Women’s Centre’s toy drive,” he said.
Items collected through Shael’s Socks will be distributed amongst 26 toy hampers and 126 food hampers, which will go to 120 families to be used by roughly 75 children.
Donation boxes will remain on display at the Blairmore Post Office, The Bargain Shop, Rexall and Copy Magic until December 24th.
Items collected will then be placed in hampers for families who come in after Christmas.
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