The 16th annual Stockings For Kids program will soon be looking for hundreds of benefactors.
The program, cosponsored by the Delta Optimist, the merchants of Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall and the Century Group, fills 300 stockings to make Christmas brighter for children supported by Deltassist.
The program was launched in 1996 and thanks to community generosity, has steadily grown from filling 150 stockings that first year to the current 300.
The Stockings For Kids program makes an appeal to community members to sponsor a stocking with a designated gender and age, fill it with appropriate new gifts, and return the stocking to the mall for distribution by Deltassist Family and Community Services.
Groups, businesses and individuals consistently respond to the request from the program. Sponsoring a stocking is perhaps one of the truest gestures of giving, as it is done anonymously, with each recipient having no way of thanking the donor.
This year, stockings can be picked up during Adopt A Stocking Day on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the Town Centre Mall (near Sublime Art Supplies).
Participants will choose what age and gender they would like to fill a stocking for and then return the filled stocking to The Smoke & Pop Shop by Friday, Dec. 7.
Those wishing to participate, but unable to attend Adopt A Stocking Day, can call the mall at 604-9431735 after Nov. 3 to make alternative arrangements.
