Community Christmas kicks off in Prince George today (Wednesday) and Bernie Goold with Saint Vincent De Paul shared some examples of why these donations can be so important.

“Some of the stories are so touching, one touched me very deeply about two years ago,” said Goold.

She said a mother came in with her two daughters, which she figured were around three and five years old.

“And they had two beautiful dolls, and I was saying to the mom that it was really nice that she was doing this with her children. And her children gave the dolls up so freely.”

Goold said the mother started to tear up while they were talking.

“And she said for about three or four years when I was young, we got hampers from Saint Vincent De Paul, and now it’s time to pay it back. And she said every Christmas that we could afford it we will bring a toy for a child and hope we could build those memories that I have of the great Christmases we had thanks to the Christmas hampers.”

“So sometimes we don’t know, we do something today and we do not realize when we give to others that it will be such an impact to their memory,” added Goold.

Country 97FM, 94.3 The GOAT and mypgnow.com will be collecting donations for Saint Vincent De Paul for 24 hours today and tomorrow.

Donations are accepted in person at the Vista Radio Studios at 2977 Ferry Avenue, but online cash donations are also being encouraged due to COVID-19.

Goold said some of the main things they are looking for this year are toys, luxury items like a package of cookies, as well as groceries.

“We try and give a week to ten days of groceries, and a full turkey dinner, and we’re hoping with all the supply chains and jeopardy that we’re going to have all the items. But somehow we will make it, we really will, through the generosity of others.”