THUNDER BAY – Vierlynn Lunn and her two boys have made the Holiday Wish Tree a Christmas tradition.
Each year they head to Wal-Mart, select a snowman with a child or youth’s name off a specially placed Christmas tree, and go shopping for someone they’ve never met.
All they know is their name and a suggestion for a present for the youngster, a client of the Children’s Aid Society of Thunder Bay.
It’s a great feeling, Lunn said on Thursday, launching the 2020 campaign at the Memorial Avenue Wal-Mart.
“It’s always been a privilege for us to be a part of this program,” said Lunn, adding her parents cared for foster children for as long as she can remember.
A volunteer with the CAS, Lunn said the impact of the program is more than most people can imagine.
“No person should ever go without the feeling of receiving something. I know a lot of time as adults, we can look back and say, ‘Oh, there’s one Christmas we can remember.’ We may have gotten that one gift and everybody should have that feeling and carry that spirit with them for the rest of their lives.”
Lunn said her children love taking part each year.
“They can spend whatever it is that they want to get. We could spend it on ourselves, but what would that be? We love the fact that we can pick a snowman, give a gift and we don’t know who it’s going to go to, but we know we’ve made that change,” she said.
Charmaine Cades, the volunteer co-ordinator at the Children’s Aid Society, said it’s their 38th year of offering the program, the 20th done in conjunction with Wal-Mart.
She acknowledged this year will be different than any other.
“Last year we brought in 320 gifts and this year our target is 450. We are seeing some challenges for our families, from COVID-19, and the situations that they live in,” Cades said.
Gifts can range from toys and books, to school supplies, and, for older youths living on their own, even household goods like dishes and towels.
Yuchi Yang, store manager at the Memorial Avenue Wal-Mart, said every year the program seems to get bigger and bigger.
It’s not surprising, said the Toronto native.
“I came here in 2013, and one thing I’ve noticed up north here is there’s such a huge community sense compared to where I come from. I think that’s a reason why (the public) responds really well,” Yang said. “We’re a city of 100,000 people, but I think there’s a lot of kind-heartedness to help people out.”
Holiday Wish Trees will also be on display at the city's other two Wal-Mart locations, starting on or about Nov. 12.
