This is the second year that Trendz Optical have run a donation drive support the Strathcona Christmas Bureau, an organization that helps give Christmas gifts to families in need, and this time around, more businesses are joining the cause.
This year’s donation run has already started and continues for another couple weeks, with their biggest push for donations happening on July 25.
Most of the businesses involved are offering rewards for those who make donations, whether it be enters into draws, door prizes or discounts on goods or services.
Janet Sochatsky, owner of Trendz Optical, said that it’s a great time for people to donate.
“I just thought that you know what, let’s have some fun during a quieter time [for Trendz Optical] and raise some funds or do something for a charity, …and we thought the [Strathcona] Christmas Bureau would be a great idea.”
Christmas is not only a busy time for a lot of families in the area, but an expensive time to. Doing a Christmas in July toy drive would allow people to still be able to donate to a Christmas event, while not having to dampen their own Christmas in exchange.
“[T]here’s families that have the choice of… putting food on the table versus toys under the tree,” said Sochatsky “So this I’m hoping will be able to help those families out and make a child a little happier on Christmas morning.”
Last year’s Christmas in July event was run solely by Trendz Optical, but this year, seven more businesses are opening their doors to donations.
All of the following businesses are accepting donations for toys and gift cards.
- Browns Social House – Wye Road and Salisbury Way
- The Sherwood Park Bookworm – Fir Street
- Body and Soul Day Spa – Broadway Boulevard
- Brentwood Chiropractic Clinic – Fir Street
- Fem Haven Boutique – Kaska Road
- The Busy Backyard Beaver – Sioux Road
- Farmer And Daughter Toy Shop – Sherwood Drive
- Trendz Optical – Brentwood Boulevard
Donations at all donations are open until the end of the month.
Below is a list of gifts that the Strathcona Christmas Bureau is specifically looking for.
If you wish to make a monetary donation to the Strathcona Christmas Bureau directly, a link is available on their website.
