A local service club put smiles on the faces of nearly 150 children last week just before the holidays.
The Cochrane Kiwanis Club held their fourth annual Christmas for Kids event at Walmart on Sunday, Dec. 12.
Charter president Ronald Gosselin said 141 children were able to come to the store and pick a toy of their choosing.
But first, a photo with Santa.
The children, who are referred to the program, were teamed up with a Cochrane Generals player to go pick out a gift valued around $40.
"We want parents to understand that the kid should be selecting the toy," said Gosselin.
Once the gift is selected and rang through, the children are treated to a table full of socks, toques, mittens and hygiene products they can pick up.
Next, they can select a teddy bear that was donated through the Calgary Hitmen's Teddy Bear toss.
Finally, by the time the children's hands are full, their photo with the big man in red is fully developed and ready to take home.
"This is our signature project," said Gosselin, alongside the service club's Bike Safety Day and Backpack Program. "We are really dedicated to kids who don't have as many opportunities as other kids. We don't call them under-privileged. These are kids that don't have as many opportunities."
"At the end of the day," he said. "One of the things we want to do is put smiles on kids faces.
That, he said, was a success.
The fun didn't stop there, though. Gosselin said the Generals offered the kids and their families tickets to the game that night, too.
"It makes for an all-day event or party," he said.
The project originally started at the Kiwanis Calgary Northmount club approximately 30 years ago.
