Christmas miracle in Fort St. John

Friday, December 18, 2009

Photo: Toys, clothing, gift cards and electronics cover the floors of the Big Brothers Big Sisters office. More than $3,000 was raised, in just under a day, to purchase all of the presents - Christine Rumleskie/Energeticcity.ca

Residents in Fort St. John have saved Christmas for more than two local families.

During the holidays, the local Big Brothers and Big Sisters group organizes an event that links organizations to families in need. Companies then raise money and purchase gifts for the families.

This year, one company had to back out of the arrangement, leaving two families without the support that they were depending on.

So on Thursday, the local Big Brothers and Big Sisters group put out a plea to the community - and the community responded.

BBBS Executive Director Danielle Armstrong says in just one day, people donated more than $3,000 for the cause, raising more than enough to support the two families.

Armstrong says each child in need will now receive pretty much everything on their wish list.

She notes that in one of the more touching moments, a little boy donated his life-savings for one of the children in need.

Donations also included warm clothing and gift certificates to local grocery stores.

For a previous story on this, Click Here.

Below is a list of donors that contributed to this drive:

Kelly Dowd of Big Valley Enterprises

Mike Fitzgerald and family

Sunlife First Choice Insurance

Mark Joseph and trends

Tonya and the staff at Fines Organic Foods

Staff at Distnce Education

Dominion Steel

Hoss's Holdings

and the many other individuals and families that come out to support this drive.