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Toronto Christmas Market
It doesn't have to take the fun out of the season to instill a little bit of compassion in your kids this time of year. Here are 10 ways to give back in Toronto.
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Toronto Housing Wishlist
Community agencies across the city need everything from toys to toiletries to TTC tokens and more for their patrons. Have the kids help you by making a list (and checking it twice, of course) of items you can buy/donate, then bring the kids with you when it's dropped off to see the giving in action.
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Christmas on Seaton Street CD
Celebrities have their holiday albums (why, Backstreet Boys, why?) but for some excellent homegrown musical talent that also supports the Children's Wish Foundation, pick up a copy of Christmas on Seaton Street or download on iTunes. It's literally good music.
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Community Involvement at Sherway Gardens
Several years ago, someone baked up a good idea that cookie decorating and doing good can go hand in hand. Head over to the Gingerbread Cookie Factory at Sherway Gardens, buy a single or set of cookies and decorate on sight. All proceeds go to support senior services at Trillium Health Centres. While you're at the mall, have the kids pick out a favourite toy to donate to the Salvation Army's Toy Mountain campaign.
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Hope for Children Fund
You've swiped it enough times that your kids know the value of a gift card. Hope for Children welcomes gift cards for stores and services families might need (food, pharmacy, gifts, clothing, transportation), so let the kids select several from your grocery stores' gift card wall and wrap them up to be dropped off.
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Light Up the Beach for Second Harvest
Second Harvest, the Toronto agency that donates fresh, excess food from restaurants and more, is the charity behind the annual DeClute Light Up the Beach event along the Beach boardwalk. It supports Second Harvest by asking for a non-perishable donation for Second Harvest food bank.
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TOMS Give Shop
Small steps towards caring about our community can make a big difference. Bring the kids down to TOMS Holiday Give Shop and have them enjoy crafts and more while they learn about TOMS One for One initiative.
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Merry Musique at the Grove
There's no escaping holiday music anymore, but the event known as Merry Musique at the Grove won't grate on your nerves. Instead, the whole family can enjoy an incredible evening of music, while sponsoring music initiatives for young musicians. (Sounds good to us.)
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Christmas Sharing at Moorelands
Moorelands, an inner-city community that caters to many in need, celebrates the giving spirit of the holidays by offering an entire Christmas Sharing menu of options to help. Have your kids select items on the list (board games, craft supplies, storybooks and more) and drop them off at the centre. (You can also pay for ‘opportunities' like sponsoring a school field trip, a week of healthy snacks, a camp experience and more.)
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Toronto Christmas Market
Being generous can go hand in hand with having fun. Case in point, the Toronto Christmas Market down at the Distillery District. Bring canned goods to drop off and have a photo with Santa. Each cute pic provides a donation to the Toronto Star Santa Fund.
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Ten Thousand Villages
As every mother knows, it takes a village to raise a child. Turn that notion on its head this year. By selecting items from Ten Thousand Villages stores in the city as gifts for friends and family, your child can help an entire village.