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630 ched santas anonymous history

630 CHED Santas Anonymous (Santas Anonymous) has been a part of our community for over 55 years.  In its first year, Santas Anonymous delivered toys to 600 children in our community.  Today, they serve over 25,000 children and support 45 other non-profit agencies, including Terra Association, Uncles & Aunts at Large, Emergency Relief Shelters and more.

Up until ten years ago, they utilized 630 CHED as a centralized warehouse hub to store, collect, sort, wrap and distribute toys.  As Edmonton’s population increased and the cost of living rose, Santas Anonymous outgrew the CHED warehouse and became nomads – relying on different donated warehouse spaces each year.  The potential lack of space forced Santas Anonymous to consider the threat of closing their doors and abandoning the children and families they support. 
 
To address this threat, the Board of Directors of CHED Santas Anonymous Incorporated began to look at the feasibility of building a warehouse to assist them in doing the following:

• maintain operations

• provide an increasing number of children with toys over the next 20 years

• store more than $500,000 worth of toys without risk of loss

• work with other agencies, such as women’s shelters and victims’ assistance, to help children in crisis throughout the year

• reduce the amount of time and money spent scouting for potential donated sites and moving into them every year

• enhance accessibility for clients who come to the warehouse to pick up their toys 

• provide adequate space for peak activity periods (wrapping bees and delivery times)  
 

next steps

After Santas Anonymous identified their needs, they began a conversation with a Community Services team from the City of Edmonton, who had completed a report on the urgent needs of Edmonton‘s non-profit organizations with respect to office and seasonal warehouse space.  From this conversation, a larger vision for a multi-tenant, non-profit centre and volunteer workshop emerged: Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit – a dynamic facility that would support charities and the people they serve.
 
 
 
A new toy is a joy that can bring so many things to a child. alt
Making him feel special
"Mom says there really is a Santa. Thank you for finding me."

Showing her that someone cares
"My best friend for the longest time received from Santas Anonymous. I waited day and night for him … He helped me through more then any person could."

Giving them dignity and self-respect
"My son always knew that S.A. [Santas Anonymous] was involved. So that he could appreciate the value of giving & sharing no matter what. Thank-you S.A. without your organization many of our Christmases would have been bleak…I can now only begin to pay back all the love & support I have felt over the years from S.A. Hopefully we can put a smile on some families faces as S.A. did for me."