The Elves Club received record donations through the Elves Club Telethon and the Gibsons firefighter boot drive on Dec. 5.
The Telethon brought in close to $24,000, nearly half of which came from the firefighters who raised $11,000. Elves Club president Lynn Nestman said the telethon was their “best ever.”
“The outpouring of love from the community was just overwhelming,” Nestman said. “I’m still tired; it was a great day.”
The money raised covers the grocery bill for the Elves Club Christmas hampers that will be sent out on Dec. 19, but Nestman said they’re still in need of further funding to cover other expenses like advertising.
Mostly though, Nestman said, they need drivers for the Sechelt area.
“I am desperately, desperately needing drivers from the Sechelt area for delivery day, on Dec. 19,” Nestman said. “The majority of our hampers go there – more than in Gibsons – and I’m lacking drivers for that area. That was a real struggle last year.”
Nestman said she wants drivers outside the Christian Life Assembly in Gibsons between 8 and 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 19.
“Don’t register, just come,” Nestman said. “Eventually we’ll register you.”
A recent toy drive at the Blackfish Pub brought in seven truckloads of toys according to Nestman.
Even so, she said they are still lacking in toys this year, specifically for boys age 10 to 14 and girls age seven to 13. “Toys are big. We were short toys last year and we had to buy some,” Nestman said.
Gibsons fire chief Rob Michael said he was “shocked” that firefighters beat their previous boot drive record by about $2,600 this year.
“I was super shocked. This was my first year doing it for the department here, and I was thoroughly impressed with the efforts put in,” Michael said. “Cody Robinson did a fantastic job of organizing everything. I think the numbers show how successful he was in his organization and his social media outreach.”
Robinson, a volunteer firefighter in Gibsons, launched a social media campaign alerting Coasters that the boot drive was coming up.
“It seemed to get a lot of traction on social media. I definitely think that helped,” Robinson said. “Each year we seem to be getting more and more donations. I think people are getting more aware as we go on each year that there are people in this community who are in need.”
The Elves Club is taking donations at their depot in Gibsons (1100 Sunshine Coast Hwy.) until Dec. 16. After that everything moves to the Christian Life Assembly church, but they will still be taking donations right up until Dec. 18.
“The only thing I don’t need at the church – once we get there – is food,” Nestman said. “But if people have toys or cash, anything can be brought to the church.”
The Elves Club is in its 47th year of supplying hampers to families in need from Port Mellon to Egmont. Last year 663 hampers were delivered. The hamper food is all purchased locally; this year the focus was on better nutrition.
Nestman said that anyone with questions can contact her directly on her cell: 604-989-9575.
