Katherine Stravropoulos of the Christmas Bureau sits down with Jessie McCracken and Sherri Beauchamp to talk all things Christmas Bureau: how they operate, who they rely on, who relies on them and how she got involved. The Christmas Bureau processes all the client applications and provides food and teen gift cards through the Adopt-A-Teen program and 630 CHED Santas Anonymous works with the Christmas Bureau to deliver toys to children 12 and under. For more information or to support the Christmas Bureau and their efforts (they are looking for a new generation of volunteers) - visit their website: https://www.christmasbureau.ca/
[1:21] What is the Christmas Bureau
[3:00] How did the Christmas Bureau start?
[4:53] Christmas In July
[5:42] The Jerry Forbes Center - Year-Round Operations
[8:24] Staff vs Volunteers - How many?
[9:02] 10:04 Becoming a tradition in families
[13:13] The Collections Desk - Every Penny Counts
[14:26] Adopt-A-Teen & Santa's Anonymous
[17:10] The $500 Donation
[19:51] Making memories for those who can't
[27:17] What can we do all year round?
[29:01] Volunteer Opportunities
[30:52] How Did Katherine Get Involved in non-profit
[32:48] Biggest thing she's learned since getting involved
[34:01] How they are celebrating their 80th Anniversary
[35:03] How Katherine wants to be remembered.
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"You get what you put in - when give, you get it back."
"We are feeding approximately 40,000 people during the holiday season."
"It's the way parenting is going - they want to teach kids to give back."
"One act of kindness can impact someone for a lifetime."
"It's just 1 day of the year but it creates the memory for the year & a lifetime."
"Giving back is a lifestyle. It's a part of a well-rounded life."