Service organizations already planning for big Christmas needs

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on July 12, 2022.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Jessica Groeneveld plays the violin for Theresa and Kayleigh Forster at the inaugural Teddy Bear Picnic fundraiser Sunday at the Norland Historic Estate.

The Norland Historic Estate was the site of the inaugural Lethbridge version of the Teddy Bear Picnic fundraiser on Sunday.
The Picnic acted as fundraiser for Christmas Hope toy agencies including the Lethbridge Family Services’ Angel Tree, Salvation Army and Shop of Wonders.
“And what we’re asking is families come and they buy a ticket or their tickets are sponsored and each family receives a picnic blanket, a lunch from LA Chefs, registration for amazing door prizes… slush coupons for each person, bubbles, face painting, balloon animals and music,” said Michelle Gallucci, picnic co-ordinator and the advancement and communications coordinator at LFS.
Families could enjoy a teddy bear garage band where children could play music on either a piano or violin, and a roving violinist made the rounds and played for families. There was free face painting, free balloon animals, and the City of Lethbridge ambulance members did stuffed animal “check ups.”
Certain cities engage in a different version of the Picnic.
“We are expecting the need at Christmas time this year to be great and we thought, why don’t we put on a fundraiser way before Christmas so that we can start receiving funds to meet the need that we think is going to happen with the children that we serve,” said Gallucci.
The hope was to raise $5,000 in the first year, and the event saw over 312 people attend.
More information on the cause and donations can be found at http://www.christmashope.ca.