Holiday shoppers in the giving spirit this holiday season
Calgary malls are still a destination for Christmas shoppers who aren't purchasing all their gifts online and that's good news for charities who've set up shop at Southcentre Mall.
Southcentre marketing manager Alexandra Velosa said it's important for the mall to provide opportunities for people to give back to the community through its charities of choice.
This year Velosa said the mall worked with a dozen different charities.
"We're always looking at opportunities to connect with the community and give charities an opportunity to be visible and interact with people," said Velosa. "(We want to) let (customers) know what they do and most importantly explain the impact (their) donations make for those charities and causes."
Cystic Fibrosis Canada is 'Wrapping for a Cure' on the second level near the food court. Kristina Jakeman is a fund development associate with the charity and said the agency is usually at three Calgary malls for Christmas but because of the pandemic they're only wrapping gifts at one.
"It's one of our biggest fundraisers of the year," said Jakeman. "We have over 100 volunteers this year coming in to wrap for us, we're hoping to raise about $20,000 and we have an ambitious goal of gift wrapping 7000 presents this year."
Jakeman said all the money raised helps fund research, advocacy and care at its four specialized clinics in Alberta that help people with Cystic Fibrosis.
"I would say the average amount of gifts that people get wrapped are about four and about $20 donation for all four gifts," she said.
Bev Spielman has volunteered wrapping gifts for nine years and likes knowing she's helping fund research. Spielman said spending a few hours with other volunteers makes her happy.
"(It's) very heart warming and it's a lot of fun, you meet a lot of interesting people, "said Spielman."You kind of get a chance to put your (wrapping) skills together, you know, put together a nice package for a customer and they go away happy, (and it) makes you happy."
John Staples just finished his Christmas shopping and is supporting the charity by having all his gifts wrapped.
"I think it's easier to give this time of year," he said. "There's definitely more places to do it and more access for it so it seems like everybody's more in the giving mood at this time of year."
Santa takes up centre court at the mall but off to the side is the Cookie Kitchen. It's a fundraiser for Calgary Meals on Wheels. Cindy Browning is with the charity and enjoys watching children of all ages come decorate a cookie with icing, marshmallows and sprinkles.
"Our goal is to give out 8000 cookies and hopefully to raise $16,000 this year and we're on track because as of last week we were probably about $8, 500," said Browning. "We're halfway through and we still have just over two and a half weeks to go."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.