Inside the second floor of the old North Vancouver Sears store, it’s clear the Christmas rush has begun.
The department store at Capilano Mall closed its doors for good in 2018. The bottom floor was converted into the B.C.'s biggest indoor mountain bike park in 2023, but the upper floor has been taken over by Family Services of the North Shore, where the non-profit now runs its annual Christmas Bureau – a program that helps individuals, families and seniors trying to desperately to get something under the tree on Dec. 25.
This year, there are close to 3,000 North Shore residents on the list, a third of whom are under the age of 18. The main eligibility criteria are that they live on the North Shore and get by on what Statistics Canada considers to be a low income.
Christmas Bureau clients are matched with a sponsor business or family who will provide a basket containing toys, gifts and grocery gift cards that will deliver a bit of that Christmas magic we’d all like to think is universal.
“What I love is that our community really is all in in supporting other people in our community. There are reasons why people are having a hard time,” said Michele Varley, director of community hub programs for the non-profit. “And we’re here to help.”
Much like in its retail heyday, the former Sears space has been organized into departments where clients are offered clothing, housewares, books, even Christmas decorations.
“They don’t have the budget to go out and buy those things,” Varley said. “Because they’re trying to put food on the table.”
When they come, clients can choose which items are right for them or their families. That provides a critical sense of normalcy in hard times, Varley said.
“We all like a little bit of retail therapy, right?” she said. “This is nice for our families.”
There’s a “maker’s lab” where volunteers can fix up and mend anything that needs a little TLC before it goes to a new home. (The allusions to Santa’s workshop can’t be avoided.)
There’s a small mountain of bicycles in various states of disassembly, along with racks of others that are ready to roll, waiting for a new home. Obsession Bikes, a longtime supporter of the non-profit, has partnered with Family Services to launch Wonder Wheels – a service that fixes up donated bikes and gets them ready to go. Varley said they are always deeply valued by clients because bicycles represent mobility, exercise in the outdoors, and fun.
“I remember talking to one dad who had a 16-year-old daughter, so a single-parent family, and he said the bike was his only way of doing something with his daughter that they liked to do together,” she said.
Perhaps most impressive is the toy department with shelves filled with brand new toys.
“It’s lovely when all the lights are on and we have Christmas music going. It’s super festive,” Varley said.
More than a place to get their Christmas shopping done, volunteers and staff are there to get a better understanding of their needs holistically and get them connected with other services that can make a difference.
Every year, there’s always some turnover among the clients. Sometimes it’s because they’ve gotten back on their feet and no longer need the extra help, Varley said, although oftentimes, it’s because they’ve moved off the North Shore in search of more affordable housing.
The number of people applying to be part of the program has grown by 20 per cent in recent years, she added.
The Christmas Bureau is always looking for people to sign up to be a sponsor or to help with a cash donation that helps fill the gaps. Gifts for teens and tweens are usually the hardest ones to come by among the donations, Varley said, but gift cards are always an appreciated way of letting them know they haven’t been forgotten.
Amazingly, there are only three hired staff running the bureau. The rest of the heavy lifting is done by more than 400 helpers who volunteer their time. All of them, Varley said, find there’s a bit of Christmas magic in it for themselves.
“We’re always happy to have more people come in. We have a lot of fun here. There’s a lot of love and happiness here,” she said.
To learn more about the Christmas Bureau, visit their website.
