Dressed in his signature red suit, Kris Kringle — this one known as the Santa Claus of Port Dalhousie — greeted families with a warm smile and hearty “ho, ho, ho” at MAC Inc.’s annual toy drive on Saturday.
Children lined up for free photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., as Kringle’s jolly spirit set the tone for a day of giving back.
Hosted at Revel Realty Inc. on Four Mile Creek Road, organizers Evan and Jessie MacDonald said they look forward to delivering the hundreds of toys they’ve collected to the Ronald McDonald House Hamilton and the McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, as well as food and clothes for Newark Neighbours in NOTL.
This charitable effort is led by husband-and-wife duo Jessie and Evan MacDonald, both head coaches at the agency — Jessie is also a broker and Evan is also a sales representative.
For the couple, this cause is personal.
Their twins were born prematurely and spent time in the McMaster Children’s Hospital.
“While we were there, we met a lot of people who had sick kids,” Evan MacDonald said.
“Over Christmas, they would stay at the Ronald McDonald House.”
They were deeply moved by the organization’s mission to bring normalcy to families facing the stress of a child’s illness.
“At Ronald McDonald, they do an amazing job every year of trying to make a normal Christmas for kids that are sick,” MacDonald said.
The Ronald McDonald House provides families with accommodations for $11 per night, offering kitchens, living spaces, and game rooms to ease the challenges of caring for a hospitalized child.
It’s a critical support system, helping families stay together during incredibly difficult times, he said.
They emphasized how crucial it is for families with sick children to have access to gifts during the holiday season.
While parents are focused on their child’s health, they said the financial strain and emotional stress can make it hard to think about buying Christmas presents.
To support the Ronald McDonald House, Revel Realty hosts several fundraisers throughout the year, including a golf tournament and the annual Revel Ball.
This year, the real estate agency raised $50,000 — the Ronald McDonald House costs about $12,000 per year to operate each family room.
“The $50,000 that we raised this year is basically four rooms covered for the year, which is pretty amazing,” MacDonald said..
Many assume the Ronald McDonald House is fully funded by McDonald’s, but in fact, MacDonald said, the company contributes 30 per cent of the funding, while the remaining 70 per cent is raised through donations and fundraising efforts.
Donations will be accepted until Dec. 6. To help ensure Old Saint Nick can deliver gifts in time for Christmas, those interested can consider bringing toys to Revel Realty Inc. to brighten the season for those in need.
Looking ahead, Revel Realty is also gearing up for the Tractor Parade on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.
The team will host an open house during the parade, offering a cozy spot to watch the festivities, complete with cookies and hot cocoa for everyone.
