Dilico’s launches year 16 of Christmas Wish Campaign

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care’s annual Christmas Wish Campaign is back for year 16.

The campaign allows residents and businesses to pick up Wish Bags that they can fill with presents for Christmas.

“Every child deserves to feel the magic of Christmas, and the Christmas Wish campaign is one way our community can come together to make that a reality,” says the Assistant Director of Child Welfare, Tom Auger.

The bags come with an information tag, to help shoppers select items a specific child would like.

Dilico workers and staff meet with kids and families to hear what they would like for Christmas and they get some ideas and fill out the information tags to be placed on Christmas Wish Bags.

The organization has received requests for things like clothing, learning supplies, toys, and more.

Since the program got underway it has delivered more than 9,000 Wish bags across the district, including 13 First Nations.

Residents looking to get involved can pick up or drop off Wish Bags at Dilico Health & Wellness Centre on Court Street, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care (Anemki), Goods & Co, or Starbucks locations in the city.

All filled bags must be returned by December 2nd, so the bags can be prepared for delivery.

New this year, are Christmas cards.

“It gives the opportunity for the people in the Community to purchase a gift (Christmas) card and the funds from those cards will be used to purchase gifts for the children who put a wish out this year,” explained Assistant Director of Child Welfare, Sarah Pelletier.

Dilico staff are also setting up several Christmas Wish Pop-Up Booths over the next couple of weeks where residents can pick up a bag, or purchase Christmas Wish Cards.

Creekside Nursery, Magnus Theatre, and Craft Revival are hosting some of the booths and specific dates and times and more information can be found here.

This year, Dilico is issuing a “10 Bag Challenge” to the business community, encouraging local companies to participate by filling at least 10 Wish bags and challenging others to do the same.

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care is hoping to fill 800 bags this holiday season.

A children’s choir with Paramount Live helped with the launch of the event at Goods and Co on Thursday, offering a Christmas performance.