Easter baskets for vulnerable Manitoban children offer 'glimmers of joy'

A Winnipeg company is going out of its way to bless children in need this Easter with baskets of joy.

Tia Sunley is a Discovery Toys Play Advisor in Winnipeg.

"We're a toy company and we provide educational toys," says Sunley. "We're such a broad company because we offer books, toys, and games for everyone. We have different products for every skill and ability."

In 2015 Discovery Toys started a donation toy drive to help vulnerable children around Easter. 

"Our team of consultants, we go around and gather sponsorships and donations to create these baskets for kids staying at 10 of the Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters (MAWS) across the province, including up north. We've also been able to expand to Ronald McDonald houses, as well as families using the Dignity House facilities."

Every Easter basket has a toy or game from Discovery Toys, a book, special treats, and toiletries. Since they started this toy drive, they've been able to provide 1,200 baskets.

"Everyone thinks about kids at Christmas and that's fantastic. These baskets allow us to intermittently provide little glimmers of joy to these families and kids."

Sunley shares that each basket costs $30. People who would like to donate can do so in any dollar amount by emailing her at tiasunley@gmail.com. Their goal is to provide 250 Easter baskets this year and have them together by the end of March.

"It's a lot of work on our part, getting all these sponsorships put in place. But you remember how a small act of kindness can be so meaningful to these families, especially in some of their darkest times."