SURREY — Registration begins Tuesday (Nov. 8) at Surrey Christmas Bureau, which has found a gift of a site for its seasonal depot in the heart of downtown Surrey, not far from city hall.
The former Sears furniture outlet at 13583 104th Ave. — also a Brick store previously — is the organization's home from now until Christmas.
The space, donated by Bosa Properties, is a "fantastic location," according to depot co-ordinator KC Gilroy.
"It will work very well for registrants and donors alike," said Gilroy, who publicly thanked Bosa for its generosity.
Every year, organizers with Surrey Christmas Bureau struggle to find suitable space for its depot, which measures 31,000 square feet this time around.
For the past couple of holiday seasons, the depot was set up in an old supermarket on 108th Avenue.
Last year, nearly 1,700 families were either sponsored through the bureau's Adopt-a-Family program or they received toys and grocery certificates directly from its depot.
On Friday, Gilroy walked some volunteers through the empty space, which will soon be set up with shelves of toys and other gift items.
Parking outside the building may be a bit tricky, as the "free" lot is currently used by a lot of people who work in the area.
"We have Diamond Parking coming to enforce a two-hour parking limit," Gilroy noted. "We're putting nice little notices on car windshields to let people know what's happening."
For those in need of a hand at Christmas, registration for the depot opens on Tuesday (Nov. 8) and continues until Dec. 3, from Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To apply, families with children 18 and under must bring photo ID, income information and proof of residence in Surrey. Call 604-581-9623 for more details, or CLICK HERE to visit the bureau's website.
Of course, donations and additional volunteers are always welcomed. CLICK HERE to be taken to the Surrey Christmas Bureau link on the website Canadahelps.org.
tom.zillich@thenownewspaper.com