Realtors at RE/MAX 100 are gearing up to ring in the Christmas season with their annual food drive and, new this year, a Children's Christmas Market.
Food drive organizer Dave Mingo said they will set up outside of Save-on-Foods on Friday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to collect donations from the community.
"We will be handing out paper grocery bags with a list of suggested non-perishable items," Mingo said.
Donations will go to Loaves and Fishes and the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (CFEC). This year the CFEC has told him they could use toiletries as well.
Mingo has lived in 100 Mile House for 30 years and has been a realtor for the last eight years.
"Every year the need seems to be great," he said. "We hear it in the schools. The response is always great each year to our food drive. It really is."
Aside from donations of groceries, they will also accept cash donations or donations made through tap for deposit into the RE/MAX 100 charity account.
No matter what Mother Nature throws on those days, the realtors will be on site. They will be serving hot apple cider and popcorn as well as doing a gift basket draw on both days.
"We like to give something back," Mingo said of the draws.
He said they are looking forward to seeing everyone.
Children's Christmas Market
Michelle Lewthwaite said she and her colleagues at RE/MAX 100 created Community Care Initiative 2024 and under that banner are hosting a Children's Christmas Market.
The market will be open Thursday, Dec. 5 and Friday, Dec. 6 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for elementary school-aged children.
They are transforming the office into Santa's workshop and have purchased hundreds of gifts for children to give to their parents or caregivers.
"Children will be able to come in and pick out something from the display," she explained. "We will wrap it up, put a bow and tag on it for a child to take home and put under the tree. Some children don't have the opportunity or the funds to do that."
As it is the first time they are doing the Children's Christmas Market, she said usually they do a toy drive but felt that lots of other people are doing those in the community.
"We wanted to diversify," she said, noting all the presents were purchased with money from the realtors' own pockets.
The gifts include items such as socks, handbags, work gloves, jewelry and toques.
She agreed it will be interesting to see what's popular with the children.
As of Friday, Nov. 15, the workshop was a 'work in progress,' with more being added each day. Children wanting to make a small donation to purchase the gifts, whether it be a nickel, a dime or even a quarter, are welcome to do so.
All proceeds from the market will go toward the Starfish Program.
