2025 Ava’s Christmas
Dear Elves.
In December 2025, someone is going to get a lump of coal in their holiday stocking, … but not our children and families! Thank you for thinking of our community as Christmas and the holiday gift-giving season approaches.
Emily’s House and the Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care have been celebrating our families all year long, and we are looking forward to more special events, activities, Pop-up Toy/Gift Store pickups, and home deliveries in support of our client families in December.
As in past years, year-end donations of funds are always preferred, so that they can be directed to where the need is greatest in support of those we care for. Increasingly, we are offering children and families experiences in the community, so funding for programs, excursions, accessible concerts, and community-based recreation fees are also made possible from these general donations. You can give the gift of hospice by donating through our website.
Secret Santa and enterprising elves also like to give gifts and donate tangible items. If that’s you, here is your chance! This Wish List 2025 of gift ideas and recommendations will inspire you and help to bring some extra, needed joy into hearts and homes this season…. Please remember, if you prefer to purchase an actual gift, do not gift wrap. Keep in original packaging so parents can choose the right gifts for their children and family.
Sometimes, we receive more toy donations than are needed for the holiday season. These children, teens young adults, parents and seniors are celebrating, crafting, decorating baked goods, making memories and enjoying recreation and respite all year round, which requires materials and supplies. Some donations, if not needed immediately for holiday gifts, may be stored for recreation, programming and client events throughout the year.
2025 Wish List for Christmas, Chanukah, seasonal celebrations and fundraising:
Gifts to Emily’s House that will benefit many children and families:
- Family Outings and Experiences: Funding is needed for recreational and quality-of-life experiences for children and families, like Emily’s House Explores outings. ($Any amount)
- Keba Seat: Horseshoe shape cradles child – helps them sit upright for longer periods of time and promotes sense of comfort. Works on building sitting tolerance for those who may have weaker torso strength. (Especial Needs, $228.95)
- Special Tomato: Supportive seating for children with poor sitting tolerance. Allows for child to be fully supported while on floor. Mobile base has wheels to allow child to move around. Support for head, back and pelvis. (AdaptiveMall.com $319.67)
- Replace/Upgrade Beans Bag Seating: Yogibos can be utilized either as a soft-landing area for children who need sensory input, or as a cuddle space for reading, unwinding, and comfort. A few units would be ideal to enable theatre seating. Sizes vary. ($289 – 482 per unit)
Gift cards are flexible and can provide the perfect gift for every individual at any age:
- Gift Cards are always needed to support entire families and all ages:
- Teen Gift Cards: Roblox, Sephora, Gap, Cineplex, Bed Bath and Beyond
- Restaurant and entertainment gift cards for evenings out: The Ultimate Dining Card, Cineplex, The Keg, Milestones
- Family gift cards: Walmart, President’s Choice, Amazon
- Uber Gift cards can be used for either food or transportation
- Grocery cards are a year-round priority, with $25 dollar increments allowing the best flexibility
Switch Adaptive Toys and Games:
- Switch adaptive toys are specially designed to engage children with special needs and help them have fun as they explore. With switch-activated toys, users can learn cause and effect and build their comfort with new sensory input. Options serve a wide range of sensory needs, motor capabilities, and ages.
- Switched Chapter Starter Pack: All-in-one bundle for anyone looking to start adapting toys for switch accessibility. Allows toys to be switch activated. ($150 USD)
- Dance & Groove Rockit: Switch adapted toy (can be used without external switch) includes three learning levels and 100+ songs. Encourages reaching, range of motion, and verbalization. ($78.98)
- Switch Activated Bubble Machine: A child can use a switch button to turn bubbles on and off, or choose between two bubble speeds. Creates a sensory experience, promotes understanding of cause and effect, and floats joy in the room. ($99)
- Switch Adapted Kenwood Mixer: 2-speed adapted battery powered mixer allows for greater participation in baking activities for children with disabilities. ($114 USD)
Gifts that bring music, self expression and interactive activities to life:
- Band Jam Enabling Device: Everyone’s a rock star with this five-in-one battery-operated drum-set. Just press one of the five buttons on the toy’s base to hear sounds of a tambourine, triangle, drum, cymbal or maraca. ($462)
- Bluey: Ring Ring Phone ($22.97), Nine Inch Plush Toy ($14.13), or Repositionable Sticker Pad ($9.96).
- Mini Karaoke Machine for Kids ($33.99).
- Also visit our online gift registry for ideas!
Toys and games that are engaging, easy to grip, encourage discovery, or are ingredients for crafts/dress-up:
- Tactile and Grip-able Toys: Giant bowling pins, sturdy oversized building blocks, ring toss games, multi sensory easy-to-grab textured rubber touch toys… (Prices vary).
- Craft supplies: Craft paper, thick easy-grip paint pens and markers, chunky easy-grip glue sticks for kids, pipe cleaners, paint brushes, paper plates, poster sheets, Bristol board, Bingo dobbers, pool noodles, popsicle sticks, masking tape, construction paper, magic clay/plasticine, stickers and decals, and large sturdy Ziploc bags for storing crafts and activity materials. Craft time is always a gift! ($15-60).
- Educational Toys and Age-Appropriate Gifts: Kits like Gem Art, Paint Your Own Moon, or make up/ beauty kits can be super engaging and enable the imagination to travel. ($20-30).
Emily’s House 2025 Holiday Gift Registry/Amazon Gift List:
Practical and Benevolent Gifts for Families:
- Christmas “hampers” or benevolent funds for families in crisis: For families receiving hospice care who have the greatest need, all the “holiday ingredients” may be needed to participate in seasonal celebrations, including grocery gift cards for festive seasonal meals, plus a small gift for each of the immediate family members to lift their spirits during the holiday season. Sponsor one family with a donation of $200-$250, and our hospice team will coordinate a personalized Christmas “hamper” or benevolent care gift for a family. Generally, about 25 families fall into this category each year.
- Grocery Cards: A year-round priority, grocery gift cards with $25 dollar increments allow the best flexibility for supporting our families.
Timelines:
Please deliver seasonal donations by December 10th or earlier, so that there is time for our elves to coordinate gift deliveries and seasonal events. Donations received after the preferred delivery date will still find their best home.
Emily’s House / PAC Christmas / Holiday Season Gift Drive is in Memory of Ava:
Please read Ava’s Story at: https://paceh.ca/ava-and-avas-garden-story/.
Thank you, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and happy holidays to you!
