Christmas giving in and around London: Who’s in need, how you can help

It’s called the season of giving for a reason. London-area charities are making a major push to help the less fortunate, collecting everything from food to toys to toiletries to help low-income Londoners, support the city’s homeless or make the holidays brighter for kids in hospital. Here are some of the London-area organizations with donations on their wish list.

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Christmas Care

What is it: This registered charity has been providing food hampers and toys to low-income families in the St. Thomas area since 1980. The annual campaign supports about 4,000 individuals each year, including approximately 1,600 children and teens.

Collection: Non-perishable food items and new, unwrapped toys for children.

How to help: Food and toy donations can be dropped off at the St. Thomas Memorial Arena at 80 Wilson Ave., the headquarters for this year’s Christmas Care campaign. Financial contributions can be made at www.christmascarestthomas.com.

What they said: “Donations have been good. Everything comes in slowly at the beginning and speeds up towards the end of the campaign,” said Andreana Collins, a Christmas Care volunteer for the past 18 years. Registration for families seeking help closed earlier this week and deliveries of toys and hampers will begin on a rolling basis on Dec. 13. Food donations that are left over from the Christmas Care campaign are donated to local food banks, Collins said. Unlike other charities that struggle to recruit volunteers, Christmas Care has not had to scramble. “We have a main core of volunteers who return to us year after year,” she said. “We are the luckiest group around.”

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Shoebox Project

What is it: The London branch of this national charity assembles shoe boxes filled with toiletries and goodies for women in need. The Shoebox Project has received 1,200 requests for boxes from 25 women’s shelters and domestic violence agencies in the London area.

Collection: The boxes are each worth about $50. They include a grocery or drugstore gift card, toiletries, cosmetics and a cozy accessory, such as a hat, mittens or warm socks.

How to help: Donations can be dropped off at several locations including Allstate Insurance, 665 Fanshawe Park Rd. W., Anderson Craft Ales, 1030 Elias St., Annies Chocolates,1700 Hyde Park Rd. and Libro Credit Union’s downtown, Old East Village and west London branches . Monetary donations can be made online at www.shoeboxproject.ca/chapters/london.

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What they said: “It’s been going well. We’ve extended the drive until Dec. 20, just so last-minute boxes can get in,” said London coordinator Megan Moorehead. People can donate completed boxes or loose items to go in them, she said. While the boxes are meant to include hygiene essentials, they’re also intended to be a fun pick-me-up for the women who receive them, Moorehead said. “We try to make these a gift for the women. For a lot of them, this is probably the only gift they’ll receive all year,” she said.

Business Cares Food Drive

What is it: This annual holiday season campaign by London businesses big and small supports the London Food Bank, a charity that has seen demand skyrocket in 2023 and 2024. The campaign, now in its 25th year, is the single largest food drive in support of the food bank each year.

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Collection: Non-perishable food, baby formula, feminine hygiene products and financial donations.

How to help: Drop off non-perishable food items at any Finch London car dealership, Masonville mall, LiUNA Local 1059 at 635 Wilton Grove Rd., the London and District Construction Association at 331 Aberdeen Dr. or the Western Fair District Agriplex. Donations are also being collected at the London Knights games on Dec. 13 and 15. Make a financial contribution to the Business Cares Food Drive online at www.businesscares.ca.

What they said: The opening weekend of the campaign on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 was a strong start, said Business Cares Food Drive chair Wayne Dunn. There were about 1,000 volunteers out collecting donations at about 38 grocery stores. “Londoners just keep giving,” Dunn said. “Though the need and demand in London is increasing, Londoners are responding.” The Business Cares team will have trucks on the road starting Dec. 16 to collect donations from 200 to 300 area companies, Dunn said. The final total for the 2024 campaign will be announced Dec. 19.

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Toys for Toddlers

What is it: This London-based charity is aiming to deliver 5,000 toy hampers to underprivileged children for Christmas this year.

Collection: New, unwrapped toys for children and teens.

How to help: Toys can be dropped off at Toy Mountain at Masonville mall, Canadian Tire’s Hyde Park, Wonderland Road South, Wellington Road and Horton Street stores or the Harbor Merchant Coffee Company in Port Stanley. Find more information online at toysfortotscanada.com.

London International Airport Toy Drive

What is it: This east London travel hub is a drop-off point for food and toy donations this month.

Collection: New, unwrapped toys for kids up to 14 years old for Toys for Tots and non-perishable food for the London Food Bank.

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How to help: Pull up to the terminal and enter through either the Departures or Arrivals doors. Place your donations inside the fenced area near Santa’s sleigh before Dec. 19.

Life*Spin

What is it: This charity that supports low-income Londoners is distributing grocery store gift cards and presents to more than 1,400 families in need this year.

Collection: Gift cards and financial contributions.

How to help: The deadline to sponsor and shop for a family has passed, but monetary donations are still being accepted. E-transfers can be made to [email protected] or cash, gift cards and checks can be dropped off in-person at 866 Dundas St.

Children’s Health Foundation

What is it: The fundraising arm the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Center collects and distributes toys to kids stuck in hospital over the holidays.

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Collection: New, unwrapped toys such as small Lego kits, Play-Doh, craft kits, card games and coloring books.

How to help: Schedule a time online at childhealth.ca/donate-toys-gifts-in-kind/ to drop off donations at the Children’s Health Foundation office at 345 Westminster Ave. Donations received after Dec. 20 will not be sent to Children’s Hospital in time for Christmas but will be used on special occasions throughout 2025.

TLC Foundation

What is it: The Teresina Larizza Charities (TLC) Foundation delivers Christmas presents to kids at the Children’s Hospital and provides toy shopping sprees for sick children.

Collection: Financial contributions.

How to help: Support the TLC Foundation by visiting the Santa’s House in Rotary Square at the Covent Garden Market or by donating online at www.tlcfoundation.ca.

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Salvation Army Kettle Campaign and Christmas Assistance Program

What is it: The Salvation Army collects new, unwrapped toys for children in need in the London area. The annual kettle campaign raises money for the Salvation Army’s Christmas program and its other community initiatives year-round.

Collection: Cash donations at various kettle locations around the city and toy donations at specific London locations.

How to help: Donate cash at a Salvation Army kettle or online at www.londonchristmaskettles.ca. Drop off toys at the Western Fair District Agriplex starting Dec. 16, London Fire Hall No. 1 at 400 Horton St., the Northland Mall Walmart, Westmount Shopping Center Angel Tree or White Oaks Mall guest services. The last day for donations at these locations is Dec. 20.

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Children’s Aid Society London and Middlesex

What is it: This year, the Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex is attempting to give gift cards to approximately 1,000 children and youth for Christmas.

Collection: Money to buy gift cards for London-area children and youth.

How to help: Because of the Canada Post strike, the agency is recommending people donate online at www.caslondon.on.ca. Donors can also arrange a time for an in-person drop-off at the agency’s Oxford Street office by calling 519-455-9000.

Ark Aid Street Mission

What is it: This Dundas Street charity, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is attempting to raise $600,000 during its Holiday Big Give campaign to provide warm meals and safe beds for London’s homeless.

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Collection: Monetary donations.

How to help: Cheques payable to Ark Aid Street Mission, Inc. can be dropped off at 696 Dundas St. and e-transfers can be sent to [email protected]. Donations can also be made online at www.arkaidmission.ca.

My Sisters’ Place

What is it: This day shelter and social-service agency for women in Old East Village is seeking items to help clients through the winter months.

Collection: A winter wish list of items including $5 Tim Hortons gift cards, $10 gift cards to anywhere groceries are sold, adult bus tickets, hand and foot warmers, warm hats and mittens, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, hair brushes, hair elastics and blankets.

How to Help: My Sisters’ Place accepts donations on weekends from 10 am to 8 pm and on weekends from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the side door of its location at 566 Dundas St.. People dropping off donations are asked to call 519- 679-9570 x 5000 upon arrival.

[email protected]

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