Carolyn Bouchard-MacNeil is a busy mom of three and with the holidays around the corner, she’s even busier.
Each year from November to mid-December, her home in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood transforms into a toy factory of sorts – so much so that she’s become known as a real-life Santa.
“At this time of year, it’s always new toys that we’re giving, new gifts for kids,” Bouchard-MacNeil says, adding “last year, we closed at over 4300 kids in Montreal.”
She says what started as a holiday toy drive among friends snowballed into Carolyn’s Community. The group works with local non-profits, including shelters for women and their children.
After 22 years the mom is proud of the initiative that just keeps growing. She’s equally proud of how the organization sets itself apart.
“It’s not just dropping off a toy in a box. People actually choose a child by their age and gender. …