More than 700 people ate their bacon and eggs for a good cause at the Black Knight Inn on Sunday.
The concept of the Christmas Wish Breakfast is simple — bring an unwrapped toy and earn a free breakfast in return. All toys donated at the breakfast will be given to the Red Deer Christmas Bureau and Red Deer Salvation Army.
The number of toys donated this year surpassed last year’s total.
“I believe we have received almost double the number of toys,” said Lynn Iviney, chair of the Christmas Wish Breakfast organizing committee.
Last year, the inaugural breakfast raised $20,000 in toys, cash and gift cards.
This year, cash and gift card donations total is about $3,000, which is approximately $700 more than last year.
Dena Okhifoh, assisting community ministries director at the Salvation Army said the breakfast event helps her organization support families in the community.
“And having their support in return is something the organization is grateful for,” said Okhifoh.
She said those who attend not only get to share food and fellowship around the table but they make a difference for many families and their children.
The Salvation Army will use the toys in its Christmas Adopt-A-Family program. Okhifoh said last year about 421 people were able to benefit from the program.
“Our numbers this year are higher than last year’s,” said Okhifoh. “We know we will surpass last year’s numbers,”
Teresa Kutynec, Red Deer Christmas Bureau president said the Christmas Wish Breakfast helps her organization spread the Christmas joy.
The Red Deer Christmas Bureau donated toys to more than 1,300 children last year.
“We also do a hamper program and we did about 1,100 hampers for our clients last year,” said Kutynec.
The Red Deer Firefighters Children’s Charity donated $5,500 worth of toys to the Christmas Wish Breakfast program this year.
Mark Stadnick, a fire medic with Red Deer Emergency Services said a crew of about 40 Red Deer Emergency Services came with fire trucks to help load up all donated toys and help with their deliveries.
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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