Kiwanis Canby Celebrating 66 Years of Holiday Joy

Who does the Kiwanis Canby Community Food & Toy Drive help? Families having a tough time with rent and rising food costs; grandmas finding themselves raising grandchildren on Social Security; single parents juggling work and kids and bills. In fact, the drive is for anyone who feels they could use some extra help and hasn’t applied to any other program for assistance. Last year in Canby, the drive helped about 500 families and 1,100 kids in Canby have a brighter holiday.

For 66 years Canby Kiwanis has brought the entire community together to help neighbors in need. All through November and early December, Canby Kiwanians collect toys and gifts for kids through age 18 and money for grocery gift cards. Families who register can pick up food cards and toys on December 13 at Clackamas County Event Center. Volunteers deliver items not picked up on December 14.

This year, Kiwanis needs more help than usual. The Kiwanis Thrift Store, which provides most of the funding for the drive, has been hard-hit by the ODOT reconstruction of Highway 99E. “Like many businesses in town, road construction has impacted us financially, and we are hoping the community can help with cash donations,” says Sharon Schneider, long-time chair of the event.

The community can support expenses of the drive by making credit card donations via the Kiwanis Club of Canby website, canbykiwanis.org; by using the QR code on toy barrels around town; or by sending a check to Canby Kiwanis Foundation (F&T), P.O. Box 1004, Canby, OR 97013, Tax ID 93-1322729.

Bright red toy collection barrels will be conveniently located around town at the Library, Kiwanis Thrift Store, Fire Department and about 45 local businesses from November 1 through December 6. Businesses that want a barrel to gather toys can contact canbykiwanisclub@gmail.com to see if one is available. Kiwanis encourages barrel hosts to get creative with contests and incentives to boost toy donations.

The drive serves families who live within the Canby School District. Applications to receive food and toys will be submitted at Canby Kiwanis Thrift Store, the Public Library, Canby Adult Center and Canby Center starting November 1 and are due by December 6.

Since COVID, Kiwanis has given food gift cards instead of food boxes. The cards can only be used for food (not alcohol or tobacco). This cuts down on handling other people’s food, and families can buy the groceries they want that are in line with their dietary needs and preferences.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Food & Toy Drive.
Besides Kiwanis, several local organizations always step up to help, including Rotary, Boy Scouts, local churches, Bridging Cultures, and The Canby Center. Several families have participated since their kids were little and now help as adults. Volunteers distribute and collect barrels, sort toys and fill donation bags. Volunteer opportunities are posted throughout early December on Facebook and the club website.

To volunteer, donate, or find more info on the Kiwanis Canby Community Food & Toy Drive, email canbykiwanisclub@gmail.com, or visit on Facebook and at canbykiwanis.org.