Donning red and green elf hats, staff from BN Metals unload the trailer. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Season of giving

Santa’s elves make stop at Prince Albert women’s shelter

Dec 6, 2022 | 4:42 PM

A truck and trailer, loaded with toys and blaring the song Santa Claus is Coming to Town arrived Tuesday afternoon at Prince Albert’s Safe Shelter for Women.

It took the better part of 15 minutes to unload all the various toys and games from the trailer, while staff at the shelter watched on. Executive Director Sherry Bates described the donation as incredible and overwhelming.

“I mean, it brings tears to your eyes to know that people give so generously, especially at this time of year and especially with what we’ve gone through the last couple years,” she said.

This year marks the second year for the Tons of Toys donation at the shelter from BN Metals. Noting how the shelter will be full during the holidays, Bates explained the toys will go a long way.

“We never know each year how many kids we have at the shelter or at our second stage housing but this pretty much makes our Christmas,” she said.

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Multiple tables were required to provide space for the toys. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

While the idea for the donation belongs to BN Metals, Peavey Mart provided a special price on the toys. Donning a green elf hat, BN CEO Felicia Johnson had a big smile on her face.

“Everybody likes to receive but think to give is something on a whole other level and to see people that really need it, get it, is amazing,” she said.

The shelter was among one of several toy delivery stops for the BN metals on Tuesday. Johnson explained the company’s owner grew up on welfare and with an appreciation for what others gift to those in need.

“He wants to give that back to the community because he got it as a kid,” she said.

The shelter has nine family rooms and can accommodate around 25 people, with extra space in case of an emergency. The clients who come to stay for up to six weeks, come from all parts of the country, on their journeys to get a clean start.

In addition to the toys, boxes of doughnuts were dropped off for shelter staff, as a way of saying thank you for the work they do.

Representatives from BN Metals and the shelter pose for a quick picture. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell