Breakfast with Santa: The Joy of Giving

“To get the full value of Joy, you must have someone to divide it with” – Mark Twain.

Here is the inspiring story about the “Joy of Giving” that may have started small but has touched so many lives over the past few decades. This is the story of Maria Esteves and how she started “Breakfast with Santa” with her husband, 32 years ago. For many of us at MPI Toronto, the Breakfast with Santa Foundation is a familiar name, with a cause that warms our hearts, so read on for their inspiring story and how you too could contribute to their efforts.

A humble beginning

Following a medical diagnosis, Maria was advised to take a break from work from her doctor. Maria took this opportunity to make a difference and give back to the community in any way she could. She and her husband often talked about how many families had no Christmas, so they decided to put together a breakfast on Christmas day with the help of a few other couples in a church basement. They served 7-8 families that first year. As it was so appreciated by the families, they continued this tradition every year. In 2000, they created the Breakfast with Santa registered charity in Mississauga and continued to grow over the following years with help from the community.

Their Growth Story

In 2002, Maria noticed there were a lot of children going to school hungry & though there were some programs available to assist with this issue during the school year, there were no programs available to help them in the summer, so BWS started the Summer Breakfast Program, helping to feed hungry children on a daily basis Mondays to Fridays in July and August. Then, many students were unable to take advantage of school breakfast programs – so BWS started the ‘Snack at a Time’ program to supply snacks throughout the school year.

Maria’s next initiative was to start a coat drive as she noticed several children had no mitts, scarves, gloves or warm socks once the weather got cold. She then also created a backpack drive, as families wouldn’t have enough funds to send their children off to school with a proper backpack at the beginning of the school year.

Today BWS has successfully served 27,000 Christmas breakfasts, provided 265,750 meals to hungry children, given out 630 winter coats and 910 back packs of school supplies.

MPI and BWS

MPI and BWS have been partners for 19 years thanks to MPI member Susan Prophet’s initial involvement, who, Maria calls their “Christmas Angel”. The Toronto Chapter has been a partner ever since, assisting the charity with their annual Breakfast with Santa & other initiatives.

Maria noted with goosebumps: “When the kids and their families come in for the Breakfast with Santa, they look at the buffet station and when we tell them to help themselves, their eyes open with amazement and say “I actually can take anything I want?” and they can’t believe that Santa actually brought them a present this year.”

Would you like to be involved?

The Toronto Chapter will also be sponsoring a breakfast for children and their families in the morning of December 22^nd at the Mississauga Grant Banquet & Event Centre. If you would like to volunteer please email b.w.s.unique@sympatico.ca for more information on volunteer opportunities.

If you are interested in sorting and wrapping presents for the December breakfasts, there will be two shifts on November 14th - 11am-2pm and 3-6pm. Email b.w.s.unique@sympatico.ca to offer your help.

At the Holiday Gala on December 3^rd, we will once again be collecting items for the children to receive at the breakfasts in December. Gifts most in need are movie passes, Chapters/Indigo gift cards, and/or gift cards for clothing stores for ages 10-12.