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.jpg?sfvrsn=3d825349_6 "Richmond RCMP Toy Drive")
The Richmond Christmas Fund is a non-religious, non-discriminatory program. We assist individuals and families living in Richmond, BC, who are facing financial hardship and cannot afford a holiday celebration.
The Christmas Fund provides eligible individuals and families with grocery vouchers: one per family member, up to a maximum of four vouchers per household. Children aged 11 and under also receive a selection of toys, while youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are given gift cards.
This year, the Richmond Christmas Fund is introducing an appointment-based registration system, which will be in effect during our first three registration days. The final day, on December 13, will be open to walk-ins, with applicants being helped on a first come, first served basis.
Whether you book an appointment or come as a walk-in, you're required to bring the same eligibility documents, as noted below.
To receive assistance from the Christmas Fund, you must bring all required documents when you register:
1) Picture ID for yourself
2) A BC Services Card, with Personal Health Number on the back, for each family member being registered
3) Proof of Richmond residency:
• You may use your BC Services Card if it lists your current address
• You can also prove residency with a hydro bill, rent receipt, or another piece of government ID
4) Finally, to demonstrate financial need, please select ONE of the two qualification methods listed below:
Bring an original document that proves you are currently receiving either BC Income Assistance or BC Disability Assistance
Provide proof of income by bringing ALL of the following documents:
• The 2024 Notice of Assessment for each family member aged 19 or older
• Bank statements for all bank accounts from the past two months
To qualify under option two, your net household income must be at or below the following levels, which are based on the Low-Income After-Tax Cut-Offs published by Statistics Canada:
| Family Size | Net Annual Income |
| 1 Person | $26,056 |
| 2 Persons | $31,712 |
| 3 Persons | $39,488 |
| 4 Persons | $49,264 |
| 5 Persons | $56,097 |
| 6 Persons | $62,213 |
| 7 Persons or More | $68,329 |
• All documents must be current. Unfortunately, we cannot confirm your eligibility with outdated documentation.
• You will not qualify for assistance without the required documentation. If you have questions about your eligibility or any of your documents, please call 604-279-7035 or e-mail christmasadmin@rcrg.org.
This year, Christmas Fund registration and distribution will be held at the Richmond Caring Place, located at 7000 Minoru Boulevard.
Once you've prepared the required documents, you can bring them to a registration session, where a volunteer will assess your eligibility. If you qualify for assistance, you'll be given your allotment of grocery vouchers, toys, and gift cards on the same day you register.
This year, there are three appointment-only registration days and one day set aside for walk-ins. Whichever method you choose, the same eligibility documents are required.
If you have questions about our registration process, please call 604-279-7035 or e-mail christmasadmin@rcrg.org.
• It isn't necessary for all family members to attend the registration session. One person can bring all of the required documents and register on behalf of the entire household.
• This year, due to space constraints, parents will not be permitted in the Toy Room. Instead, if you have children aged 11 or under, you'll be asked to provide a wish list for each child. Based on these lists, our volunteers will prepare personalized toy bags. Please ensure you have a means of taking the bags home with you, as you cannot pick up your items at a later date.
• If possible, we ask that you not bring any children when you register, as there will be little for them to do.
• If you're not able to attend a registration session, you can give your documents to a friend or neighbour, and they can register on your behalf. In addition to your eligibility documents, please provide the person with a signed note, so we know they have permission to pick up your items.
Definitely not. Whether you come on the first or last day, you'll receive the same number of grocery vouchers and gift cards.
As for toys, our selection changes based on the donations we receive. New donations come in throughout the holiday season, right up to the last day of registration. It's possible that, if you come during one of the later registration sessions, there will be more items available, as we re-stock the Toy Room with new donations.
While a Notice of Assessment serves as proof of income, bank statements give us additional insight into an applicant's financial situation. One of the main things we look at is amount of savings. Somebody, for example, may report very little income, but have a significant amount of savings - more than enough to afford a holiday celebration. In such instances, we may decline an applicant's request for support.
Our savings caps are not made public, but they are set very high. The vast majority of applicants will not exceed them.
