Volunteers from the 2024 What Would Santa Do? Holiday Drive Thru Giveaway gather after another successful event
Families from across the Ottawa Valley were able to pick up a little holiday magic without leaving the comfort of their warm vehicles.
They were the lucky ones at this year’s What Would Santa Do Foundation Holiday Drive-Thru Giveaway, as event Co-Chair Katie Skerkowski points out that volunteers braved frigid conditions on Sunday, December 22nd, in an attempt to make a humongous impact for people looking for a hand taking care of Christmas dinner and gifts for the kids.
Even if they missed their lofty goal, the line-up of cars taking part was so deep that local police had to pull traffic in from a side road connecting Highway 132 to Ma-te-Way Park.
That’s an image that Skerkowski explains makes it all worthwhile for herself and her Uncle Bernie, who returned to his old community this past weekend to celebrate another successful run of the concept he first developed during his time living in Florida and the Bahamas.
She was also incredibly appreciative of the local community partners who put their time and money on the line to see it through, such as working with No Frills to fill out last-minute turkey orders and a sizeable donation from Chartwell Quail Creek, which helped cover a decent number of presents.
Skerkowski says she’s still aiming for the lofty goal of helping 500 families when the What Would Santa Do? Giveaway returns to Renfrew in 2025.
(written by Kasey Egan)
