‘It’s so rewarding:’ Students help Santa’s Workshop for Santas Anonymous

The toys from the Santas Anonymous campaign have been collected and are now being sorted.

Over the last month, unwrapped toys have been collected for families in need across Regina.

Suzanne McMillan once again brought her class down to Santa’s Workshop to sort through the toys. She says she decides to bring her class down every year because it’s a way to give back at Christmastime.

“It’s the season of giving and it’s a chance to give back to the community. It makes the kids feel good,” McMillan said.

She added she has been bringing her students for at least eight years to the workshop. McMillan said she has heard positive feedback from the students about being at the workshop.

“The feeling that they get out of it is so rewarding and it’s heartwarming and it just makes you feel good inside,” she said.

McMillan added it’s overwhelming seeing all of the toys being donated.

“It’s going to make a lot of Christmases brighter,” she said.

Among the students at the workshop was Katie Babey, who said it has been fun to sort through the toys that have been donated.

“It’s really fulfilling to be able to help organize and sort these for kids who aren’t in wealthy families and might need a little bit of help to have Christmas joy, so it feels really good,” she said.

Babey added this is her first year sorting through the toys — and she would love to do it again.

“You’re helping these kids who may not have as much wealth as you do. You’re helping donate and you’re helping these kids and it brings them a lot of joy, so it’s got to bring you some as well,” she said.

The next steps for Santas Anonymous will be counting the toys, making sure there are enough for all of the kids, and distributing the toys.

CJME promotions director Amber Morse said there are more than 1,900 families registered for the program, which means 4,500 children are registered.

“The need has risen, but as always, Regina has stepped up and they have given generously,” she said.

“It always makes me happy to be here on sorting day. It makes me happy to go shopping and it makes me happy to watch the parents come in.”

Morse added she’s unsure how many toys are at the workshop right now, but she feels like the program may have broken a record this year.

“This is my 15th year and it still surprises me the generosity every year,” she said.

Monetary donations are still being accepted from the community.