I feel so proud of the generosity of this community, whenever I see it in action – from the amazing pile of gifts and pyjamas that the Sangster family dropped off to the BC Children’s Hospital, to the $2500 the Pemberton Legion has donated to the Pemberton Food Bank in the last few weeks, (from the proceeds of their Sunday meat draw s which run every Sunday from 3-5 with all moneys raised are donated to our communities) to the go-fund-me’s and local business donation blitzes (“all proceeds today in support of someone beloved”) to rally around families facing loss and cancer and other tough things.

No-one ever wants to find themselves on the receiving end of community charity. No-one wants to be spending Christmas with their sick kid in hospital, or to be turning to the Food Bank to feed their kids, to be suffering a life-altering injury or illness, or to be staring down the barrel of Christmas and not having any funds to make a stocking from.

But from people I know who have been on the receiving end of that support, generosity provides a kind of humbling that helps balance out the already humbling loss of control that can come with life’s plot twists and challenges. But a wave of support, financially, emotionally, can be a reminder that a person is part of something bigger, vaster, and beautiful, and that they matter. I think, at least, I hope, that in some ways, the outpouring of support, can help take away the alienation and isolation that suffering sometimes engenders. Can offer a kind of medicine.

Every year, the Líl̓wat Nation distributes Christmas hampers to community members, to provide families and individuals with Christmas dinner and Christmas breakfast.

Those of us with the capacity to share some good fortune with others, are invited to make a donation to the upcoming Líl̓wat Christmas Spirit Bureau.

The Líl̓wat Christmas Spirit Bureau’s goal is to see every child receive a healthy, festive meal and to have their eyes light up Christmas morning when they wake to find a present under the tree waiting for them to unwrap.

Donations over $25 are tax-deductible. Brand new unwrapped toys are also a welcome donation. Contributions are invited before December 15, via

E-Transfer: finance@lilwat.ca. Please mark Líl̓wat Christmas (Spirit) Bureau in the notes/memo section 

Mail: Líl̓wat Nation, Attn Líl̓wat Christmas (Spirit) Bureau, PO Box 602, Mount Currie, BC, V0N2K0

In Person: U̓ll̓us Community Complex (82 IR# 10 Road Mount Currie, BC) or Pemberton Community Centre

Sometimes, the best way to feel Santa magic, is to become Santa magic.