Check Wrapping Presents off your List

Tammy Gaboury plays with one of the kittens up for adoption at the Welland & District SPCA. Volunteers from the SPCA will be running a gift wrapping fundraiser at the Seaway Mall during mall hours until the door closes on Christmas Eve.

Keep your holiday stress under wrap with a little help from the Welland & District SPCA

By Brandy Ford

You've spent hours weaving through crowds of hectic shoppers to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. You high-five a reflection of yourself as you pass by another shop stuffed to the brim with frantic present seekers. You are done. Now all you have to do is go home and enjoy that mug of spicy eggnog you've been thinking about all day. But then you realize you have endless bags full of gifts that still need to be wrapped. Before you tangle yourself in scotch tape and wrapping paper, why not pass those gifts along to volunteers from the Welland & District SPCA setting up shop by Santa's Village at the Seaway Mall?

"This is our third year that the Seaway Mall has made us the charity of choice for the gift wrapping program. And in the two years that we have been doing it we've raised over $10,000 for the shelter which is amazing," says animal care manager, Tammy Gaboury.

This Christmas cat is looking for her forever home
and is waiting at the Welland & District SPCA.

She says that each year the donations have increased from the previous year, so they are hopeful that will continue for 2018.

"We hope that everyone will come out and visit our amazing volunteers that are giving their time to man that table for us and wrap up your gifts. One last thing that you have to check off your list."

After encountering some wrapping challenges the first year, Gaboury says the volunteers are ready for any oddly shaped or sized gifts that people drop off. 

"We have the boxes. We have the paper. We have the ribbon. We have it all and are ready to meet everyone's needs."

Volunteers are able to accept donations via debit, credit card or cash from shoppers.

"We have a minimal fee for the wrapping to help cover the costs of wrapping paper and supplies," Gaboury says. "And it is a fundraiser. Some people pay the minimal fee which is appreciated, and some people choose to donate a bit more which is also very appreciated."

The wrapping stations opened December 7 and runs right up until Christmas Eve when the mall closes. 

"It starts out slow, but it picks up as we get closer to the big day. We get lots of husbands and boyfriends on that last day," she laughs. "They come and drop it off and come back when it is all wrapped and pretty."

Volunteers are wrapping gifts during the entire mall operating hours between Dec 7- 24. Anyone wishing to help with the wrapping station can contact the WDHS at 905-735-1552.