FAQ
When people first discover Regina Christmas Wish List (RCWL), they often have questions.
These are some of the most common ones.
Q) WHAT’S THE DEADLINE THIS YEAR?
This year (2024), you have until December 18 to drop off your pledged/wrapped/labeled gifts at the Glen Elm Church of Christ. Drop-off days are December 15-18. During that span, we will be receiving gifts in these time slots:
- December 15 (Sun): 1 PM to 5 PM
- December 16 (Mon): 12 PM to 8 PM
- December 17 (Tues): 9 AM to 5 PM
- December 18 (Wed): 12 PM to 8 PM
If you wish to call ahead of coming, the office number is 306-757-1825.
Q1) HOW DID THIS PROJECT START?
In October 2005, Dan & Jennie (a Vancouver couple) were having breakfast at a local café. Noticing a man pushing a shopping cart nearby, they bought some extra items on their way out the door and proceeded to offer him a morning meal. As they sat together, they were fascinated to hear some of his story: Where he’d come from, how he’d arrived here, along with some of his present challenges and future dreams. They left that short conversation, feeling a renewed sense of connection toward and compassion for a complete stranger. It dawned on them that everyone has a story, and the differences between ours are often far less than we imagine.
In the weeks to follow, they initiated interviews and gift requests with a couple local shelters, and the seeds of Christmas Wish List had been planted!
Following years brought such initiatives to cities throughout Western Canada and some of the western states, gathered beneath the banner of Homeless Partners. Our Regina project (started in 2008) operated as part of that group until reorganization and rebranding in 2018, when we officially became Regina Christmas Wish List.
Q2) WHAT’S WITH THESE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS?
RCWL is facilitated by Glen Elm Church of Christ — a core team there, with a growing number of volunteers around Regina, helps it happen. But we couldn’t do it without local partnering organizations. They are the ones on the front lines, involving themselves in the daily needs and struggles of the impoverished and the marginalized within our city.
Our partnering organizations identify people within their circles, who would be suitable candidates for this project. In this sense, every person or family featured on the website is personally known through our partnering organizations. This provides us the ability to function with integrity and accountability, while providing donors confidence that the stories they read are true and the gifts they give are personally delivered into the hands of the ones who’ve made the request.
Q3) HOW CAN SOMEONE I KNOW GET ON THE WISH LIST?
The short answer: They probably can’t. What we mean is that our partner organizations (listed HERE) are vital to protecting the integrity of RCWL. We can’t know every person/family on the Wish List. But our partner organizations DO know everyone on the list, and those personal connections are what allow us to responsibly present these stories and requests. We’re aware that there are many needs in our city, but RCWL is incapable of receiving or processing outside applications. If you’re seeking to help someone you know, we encourage you to call around and investigate other amazing efforts that take place around Regina, during the Christmas season.
Q4) WHY DO SOME STORIES HAVE INITIALS INSTEAD OF NAMES?
Some of our partner organizations do work that requires extra levels of security or confidentiality for those they serve. In these cases, stories are identified with initials or pseudonyms, rather than names. Partner organizations keep detailed records to ensure that the right gifts are delivered into the right hands, when Christmas arrives.
Q5) WHY DO SO MANY REQUEST GIFT CARDS?
We recognize that many consider gift cards something of an impersonal gift, the likes of which we wouldn’t consider giving to those we love most. However, there’s another way to see this.
Gift cards provide an unusual privilege to those who request them, the freedom to walk into a store with the ability to browse and then select exactly what they want. Many of us take that type of freedom for granted, but you know that special joy there is in shopping for oneself? When one seldom has such freedom, the opportunity provided by a gift card feels downright luxurious!
Q6) CAN I GIVE USED ITEMS?
We see many instances when secondhand items are in fantastic shape, even like new. However, we typically insist that gifts for RCWL be brand new. This allows us to ensure the quality of the gifts being received. It also makes an emphatic statement of care to the recipients. Individuals and families being featured on this site live much of their lives, making do with charity or hand-me-downs. There is something exciting and affirming to opening up a brand new item that’s been specifically chosen for them. We like helping that happen!
Q7) DO YOU TAKE DONATIONS?
While RCWL is not a registered charity, it does function as a work of Glen Elm Church of Christ. If financial donations are made, we will assess needs to determine whether to direct them toward gift-shopping for the current list or toward the ongoing development and maintenance of our website.
The most common form of support for RCWL is through reading stories and giving gifts. However, if you would like to donate items or cash to be used on your behalf, contact us HERE to see what is possible.
Q8) THE ORDER OF THE STORIES SEEMS TO CHANGE SOMETIME. AM I HALLUNCINATING?
No, you’re actually quite observant! Our Stories Page is designed that the stories with the most unpledged gifts move toward the top of the list. We want readers to find needs they might respond to, as easily as possible.
Q9) I SAW A STORY BEFORE, BUT I CAN’T FIND IT ANYWHERE NOW. WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?
When all the gift requests are pledged on a story, that story disappears from view. It’s still a great story, but we find readers appreciate efficiently finding stories and requests to which they can respond. Removing stories where no further response is needed helps this happen.
Q10) WHY BOTHER WITH STORIES, IN THE FIRST PLACE?
There are many charities operating at Christmas time. If one wishes to place a toy in a bin or a cheque in the mail, options abound!
RCWL is different for a reason. We believe that stories are powerful toward increasing understanding, stirring compassion, and generating connection between people. As readers interact with the stories and requests on the website, they feel a sense of care toward local strangers.
Individuals and families annually tell us of how their Christmas traditions have changed since becoming engaged with RCWL. Parents take their children shopping to buy gifts for other children. Couples who feel their needs are already met choose to redirect money from one another, to tangibly meet the needs of impoverished “neighbours” of whom they are now aware.
Someone has said, “Story is what connects us and binds us to each other.”
We believe that.
And we are happy to help it happen.
If you have other questions, feel free to contact us HERE.
If you’re ready to join in, you can read stories HERE.