An annual event that helps thousands of families who would not otherwise be able to celebrate Christmas is coming to Langley, with the announcement that the first Children’s Wish Breakfast in the Fraser Valley will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the Newlands Golf and Country Club.
The breakfast is a joint effort by Newlands and the City of Langley.
Everyone who turns up at Newlands at 21025 48 Ave. between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to donate a toy or make a cash donation will be treated to a complimentary breakfast prepared by the Newlands culinary staff.
There will be live entertainment provided by local singers and musicians and a visit from Santa.
Volunteers from the Langley City Fire Department and the Langley RCMP will be on hand to receive the toys on behalf of the Christmas Bureau.
After the event, Christmas Bureau elves will sort the toys according to age and gender.
Last year, the all-volunteer Langley Christmas Bureau helped 759 families consisting of 1,700 children.
READ MORE: Voices unite in harmony for Langley Christmas Bureau
The annual event hosted by the Pan Pacific Vancouver started in 1987 with 25 guests.
In 2016, over 5000 peopledonated 17 tonnes of toys, 1000 bicycles, 216 gift cards and over $17 000 in donations.
The Pan Pacific culinary team served up 18,000 eggs,12,000 sausages, 450 pounds of hash browns, 6,000 croissants and 3,000 muffins.
Not sure what to bring? Here are some suggestions, courtesy of the Pan Pacific organizer:
Babies, toddlers and preschoolers:
- Outdoor toys (tricycle, kick scooter, balance bike)
- Building blocks (mega blocks, wooden blocks)
- Play doh
- Musical toys (xylophone, maracas, drums)
- Educational toys (shape sorting cube, abacus, octotunes)
- Games (Hungry Hippos, Angry Birds, Knock on Wood game)
- Crayon, paints and easels
- Leapster Explorer Camera
- Toy cars and train sets
- Dinosaur figures
Elementary school kids, tweens and teens:
- Building toys (Lego, Duplo)
- Outdoor toys (skateboard, kick scooter, bike, soccer ball, basketball, sled)
- Games & brain twisters (Pokemon cards, Perplexes, Quirkle, Monopoly, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Cranium Family Edition)
- Puzzles
- Barbie
- Doodle Art
- Art sets (pencils, crayons, pastels)
- Tea and coffee travel mug
- Watch
- Headphones
- Books
- Air hockey
- Tickets to concerts and sport events
- Gift card (coffee, mall, store)
READ MORE: Aubrielle’s Wish: to bring smiles to the faces of sick kids
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dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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