Heather Latter
Staff with the Rainy River District Victims Services Program will be distributing gifts to local families this week after receiving nearly 100 donated items collected at the Makabi Inn here this holiday season.
“We just want to thank the public for contributing,” said motel owner Terri Davis.
Davis wanted to help share the Christmas spirit with families in need. And as someone who feels strongly about supporting victims of domestic violence, she chose the local Victims Services Program.
“I’m very impressed with the way the community stepped up,” she remarked. “There are the food banks, Christmas hampers, ‘Adopt-and-Angel’ and yet the gifts still came in.
“That’s got to say something about our community.”
Davis put out the request for donations last month, asking those wishing to contribute a gift to wrap the item and write on the package if it’s for a boy or girl, as well as the approximate age.
Some gifts also were donated for adults.
“It’s supposed to be a happy time and we just want to put smiles on the faces of children who are in unhappy situations,” Davis explained.
“We just wanted to do something,” she stressed. “We just want kids to have presents for Christmas.”
The gifts will be given to local families that Victims Services have worked with over the year—families who have dealt with domestic violence and homelessness.
The remaining donations will go to the Rainy River District Women’s Shelter of Hope in Atikokan.
“It was very nice of them to do this,” lauded Peggy Loyie, program manager of Victims Services here.
“We were surprised by their generosity,” she admitted. “Staff at the Makabi just came forward with this as their own initiative and it’s just wonderful.”
“We certainly have families who will benefit from this,” echoed Sue Carlson, volunteer co-ordinator/administrative assistant for Victims Services.
“We received more than we expected,” Davis noted. “It was an awesome experience.”
She added they’ll likely do it again next year.
In related news, staff at the Makabi Inn are hoping to continue putting smiles on the faces of children by hosting a visit with Santa this Saturday (Dec. 22).
From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., youngsters can have their photos taken with jolly St. Nick for $4.
