The first-ever Children’s Wish Breakfast in the Fraser Valley generated a better-than-expected response Tuesday in Langley City.

Over 1,000 people showed up, donating over 2,500 toys, $1165 in gift cards, and $5,000 in cash donations.

“For Langley’s first annual Children’s Wish Breakfast, the response from the community was unbelievable and encouraging,” Mayor Ted Schaffer said.

The event was held at Newlands Golf and Country club.

Everyone who turned up between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to donate a toy or make a cash donation was treated to a complimentary breakfast prepared by the Newlands culinary staff.

Schaffer said the event will be held again next year.

It was the first time the event, which has been held in Vancouver since 1987 at the Pan Pacific Vancouver, has been held in the Fraser Valley.

“The annual event at the Pan Pacific takes care of the north side of the Fraser and there’s never been anything on the south side of the Fraser,” Schaffer said.

“So with a trade area of over 500,000 people we thought it would be great to team up with Newlands and have a toy breakfast on the south side of the Fraser. This is a caring community.”

There was live entertainment provided by local singers and musicians and a visit from Santa.

Volunteers from the Langley City Fire Department and the Langley RCMP were on hand to receive the toys on behalf of the Christmas Bureau.

After the event, the Christmas Bureau elves sorted the toys according to age and gender.

Last year, the all-volunteer Langley Christmas Bureau helped 759 families consisting of 1,700 children.

READ MORE: Voices unite in harmony for Langley Christmas Bureau

In 2016, over 5,000 people donated 17 tonnes of toys to the annual event hosted by the Pan Pacific Vancouver, including 1,000 bicycles, 216 gift cards and over $17,000 in donations.

The Pan Pacific culinary team served up 18,000 eggs,12,000 sausages, 450 pounds of hash browns, 6,000 croissants and 3,000 muffins.

dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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Nicole Benshimol, 8, wore holiday colours to breakfast at the Newlands Golf and Country Club Tuesday morning. The Langley City Event was the first Children’s Wish Breakfast in the Fraser Valley. Dan Ferguson Langley Times

The Langley Ukulele Ensemble performed at the Newlands Golf and Country Club Tuesday morning. The Langley City event was the first Children’s Wish Breakfast in the Fraser Valley. Dan Ferguson Langley Times

RCMP greeted donors at Newlands. Dan Ferguson Langley Times