To Ensure the Safety of the Children, Staff, and Volunteers, no Physical Toy Donations can be Accepted at this Time For the past 30 years the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Foundation has hosted Santa’s Sleigh at Walmart on Chemong Road where shoppers drop off unwrapped gifts for children and youth involved with the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society.   We all know what kind of year it’s been. Wearing masks. Working from home. Social distancing. It’s been tough on all of us. Now imagine the impact on our most vulnerable kids. Sadly, fear and uncertainty effects children of abuse and neglect at an intensified level. They understand all too well that when things are not right in the world, they will experience more trauma, both physically and mentally.   Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, in order to ensure the safety of our staff and volunteers, and the safety of KHCAS social workers and their clients, we made the difficult decision to modify this year’s Santa’s Sleigh to accept gift cards and monetary donations only.   The 2020 Santa’s Sleigh – Gift Cards for Kids Program will be running from November 19th – December 9th, 2020.   In addition to our long-time partner Walmart on Chemong Road who continues to be our main gift card collection point, we have currently made arrangements with Canadian Tire on Chemong Road, Merritt's Home Building Centre on Lansdowne St. W, Kingan Home Hardware on Simcoe Street, and Morello's Independent on Lansdowne St E. who all will have cash and gift card drop off boxes at their Customer Service Desks in the absence of a physical sleigh.   As Santa's Sleigh has become a tradition for many of you, we understand how disappointing it is not buying the actual gifts this year.  However with all the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we needed to ensure the end result would ensure that our most vulnerable children will have a special gift to open this holiday season.  With the assistance of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society staff, your donated and purchased gift cards will make this all possible.