Kicking Off the Season of Giving: Captain Scott Legacy Society Becomes Surrey Christmas Bureau’s First Volunteer Group of 2025

On November 18, Captain Scott Legacy Society had an amazing opportunity to join the Surrey Christmas Bureau as the very first group of volunteers in 2025, officially kickstarting this year’s season of giving.

Despite having just 1 week to recruit volunteers, our team was able to gather 9 volunteers. It wasn’t difficult to look for support, our group is filled with energized and dedicated volunteers who are always looking for opportunities to give back and support families in need, especially during the holidays.

On the day of, we arrived at 9:00 AM for a quick orientation and introduction, and by 9:30 AM, our volunteers were ready to dive in. To help promote teamwork and connection, we paired volunteers together so everyone had support while getting to know new faces and support the families.

We are deeply grateful to Malika and Karmin from the Surrey Christmas Bureau for guiding us throughout the entire shift. Their support and accommodation made the experience much more meaningful and welcoming for everyone involved.

Families soon began arriving to shop for holiday gifts for their children. Volunteers assisted parents based on the number of children in their family, age ranges from newborn to 18 years old, and specific gift preferences. The toy selection was very diverse: cars, dolls, books, board games, stuffies, clothing, and more. For older youth, options included headphones, makeup bundles, card games, gift cards, and so much more

After selecting gifts for their children, parents also had the chance to pick out household items and clothing for themselves. Many expressed how grateful they were and shared how much joy the gifts would bring to their children. Hearing their appreciation reminded us exactly why we do this work.

We also rotated through tasks behind the scenes. Some restocked shelves so the gift tables were never empty, while others checked expiration dates on products, prepared bundles, organized inventory in the back room, and handled donations at the front desk. These efforts ensured the space stayed running efficiently for families throughout the day.

Overall, the experience was incredibly rewarding. Many volunteers shared that this was one of the best volunteer opportunities they’ve had, made even more special by the magic of the holiday season, when everyone deserves to feel loved and supported.