WHO WE ARE

Since 1940, the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, which was started as a community initiative to ensure the families left behind during the war were not forgotten at Christmastime, has had one mission:  to provide a festive meal and coordination of Christmas giving to Edmontonians in need.

The Christmas Bureau of Edmonton provides a one stop application process for families, seniors and individuals in need to apply for assistance at Christmas time, whether it is for food, toys or teen gift cards. While the process of determining eligibility is a thorough one, it is marked by a spirit of compassion and generosity, respecting everyone's dignity, integrity, confidentiality and rights.

We collaborate with over 80 Edmonton social service agencies to ensure that anyone needing assistance is given the opportunity to apply. The agencies must attend an orientation session and have skilled Social / Intake Workers on staff that understands the challenges of low income families.  Clients can also apply directly to the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton for assistance. 

The people we assist (families, seniors and individuals) receive more than a meal - it’s Christmas with hope and dignity and the knowledge that there is support from the community.  The Christmas Bureau of Edmonton is non-denominational and accessible to all Edmontonians in need.

We also collaborate with other service providers, such as The Salvation Army, inorder to reduce the duplication of services, ensuring that funder and donor dollars within our community reaches as many Edmontonians in need as possible.

Non-denominational and accessible to all Edmontonians in need, the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton raises funds to provide a festive meal to Edmonton families, seniors and individuals at Christmastime. The Christmas Bureau also has a secondary program - Adopt-A-Teen - which provides teens aged 13 to 17 years of age a Christmas gift card. We also work closely with 630 CHED Santas Anonymous to provide children 12 years of age and under with toys at Christmastime.

OUR MANDATE

To provide a festive meal and coordination of Christmas giving to Edmontonians in need through the promotion of the spirit of Christmas caring and sharing in the City of Edmonton. 

"It is greater than one meal. One act of kindness can impact someone for a lifetime."