Santa and his Sears Canada Elves Make a Surprise Visit to Halifax & Region MFRC as Part of the 10th Annual Sears Operation Wish to Honour Military Families

HALIFAX, Dec. 4, 2015 /CNW/ - Santa Claus and 10 of his merry 'elves' from Sears Halifax came to town today to make a special delivery of brightly wrapped toys and play equipment for use by over 162 tiny tots who attend the Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre's (H&R MFRC) daycare at 30 Provider Road, Shearwater, NS.

From Little Tykes easy score basketball sets to giraffe activity centres, military families will be able to enjoy this brand new play equipment thanks to Sears Operation Wish, established in 2006 as a way to unite and honour Canadian military personnel and their families. 

"We asked the Military Family Resource Centre in Halifax to send us their wish list for new toys and play equipment that they would like to receive to help refurbish their daycare sites at Shearwater and Halifax which, between them, serves more than 230 young children," explains Patti Matchim, District Manager, Sears Atlantic.  "We are so delighted to be part of this initiative and to provide such a wide range of toys and play equipment to military family children.  It's a small way for Sears Canada to continue to honour and recognize the often selfless contribution military personnel and their families make to this community and our country."  Matchim adds that all the toys and play equipment have been donated by Sears Canada generous vendor partners.

This year, Sears Operation Wish is part of a larger Sears Canada initiative called 12 Days of Giving whereby, in the spirit of Christmas giving and granting wishes, the Company is organizing 12 different activities over 12 consecutive days from December 1-12 from a National Volunteering Day and Skating Rink Takeovers to Awesome Dad and Mom Makeovers.

"The Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre (H&R MFRC) recognizes that military families are the strength behind the uniform. We are here to provide programs and services to help support these families," explains Colleen Calvert, Executive Director at the Halifax & Region MFRC. "We are thrilled to receive continued support from Sears Canada, and today's generous donation will have a huge impact on the children who participate in our programs."

Sears Operation Wish is also holding its annual Military Family Discount program on Sunday, December 6, 2015.  This special military discount offers active and retired military members, reservists and family members a discount of 15% off most items sold at Sears, even if items are on sale already.  It is a one-day 24-hour Holiday shopping opportunity based on Eastern Time from midnight to midnight on December 6^th and is available through all of its channels – Sears Department stores, Sears Home stores, Sears Outlet stores, Sears Hometown stores, all current Sears catalogues and on www.sears.ca

Sears Canada is also donating $10,000 to help support local MFRC's youth oriented programs along with a percentage of funds raised through sales of its special limited plush bear, Darcy, who sports a green sweater with a reindeer.  A new addition to this year's plush fundraising program is that there will be matching sweaters for the whole family to purchase in a choice of three colours and different motifs.  100% of the proceeds from the sale of Darcy are donated to after-school youth programs sponsored by the Sears Canada Charitable Foundation, a percentage of which are directed to local MFRCs on an equal basis. 

Since its inception in 2006, Sears Operation Wish has donated in excess of $170,000 to support both national and local military family support programs. 

At its two sites, Halifax and Shearwater, the H&R MFRC provides childcare services to approximately 230 children. It also offers a variety of programs, like Gymboree, which helps parents and their children get active by playing in a gym filled with bikes, tunnels, toys, mini-putt, and other fun games. 

About Halifax and Region Military Family Resource Centre:

The Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre (H&R MFRC) is proud to be a part of a strong military family community. It is a registered charity, and its mission is to strengthen the well-being of all those who share the unique experience of military life. The H&R MFRC provides programs and services to military families in Halifax, Shearwater, Central and Northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, with service sites in Halifax, Shearwater, and Sydney.

About Sears Canada Inc.:

Sears Canada is a multi-channel retailer with a network that includes 162 corporate stores, 144 Hometown stores, over 1,200 catalogue and online merchandise pick-up locations, 84 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide repair and service network.  The company also publishes Canada's most extensive general merchandise catalogue and offers shopping online at www.sears.ca

SOURCE Sears Canada Inc.

Contact for Media: Alicia Richler, Sears Canada, Corporate Communications, 416-941-4423, [email protected]; Catherine Wall, PR Communications Inc., 902-489-0270, [email protected]; John McGrath, PR Communications Inc., 416-876-3945, [email protected]