The Christmas Angels program gives toys and important every day items to struggling families in need. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

holiday spirit

Christmas Angels hard at work supporting Nanaimo families in need

Dec 5, 2019 | 8:29 AM

NANAIMO — It’s a joy to receive presents at Christmas, but it’s also a joy to give a present and help out a family in need.

For more than five years, Jim and his family have been Christmas Angels for dozens of Nanaimo families. Each year they receive a list from Volunteer Nanaimo about what toys, clothes and Christmas gifts to buy the families and then they go shopping.

“We’ve always donated to different causes, but this one reverberated,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW. “It made me think about all the homeless people and those who can’t afford Christmas, who can barely afford to live.”

He said they’ve expanded their Christmas Angel efforts as the need gets greater each year.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize how fast somebody can go from doing okay to all of a sudden being on the street, or back home living with their parents. It just happens too much.”

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Despite the seriousness of the need during the holidays, he said it gives them great joy to help out.

“Obviously we can afford it, so we give back. The great part of the Christmas Angels program is you can go out and really involve yourself with what these people need. You’ll know they need regular stuff to live on they can’t afford, so you just give it to them and it makes you feel better.”

Nearly 400 families were helped by the Christmas Angels program last year.

Anyone looking to become a Christmas Angel or donate gifts can reach out to Volunteer Nanaimo through Facebook, check out volunteernanaimo.ca or call their office at (250) 758-7121.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit