Six-year-old Carson Walton had modest expectations when he started collecting money at his family鈥檚 office, to buy presents for BC Children鈥檚 Hospital.
Thanks to the kindness of strangers, he raised eight times more than his goal of $300.
By the end of the fundraising drive, Carson, his parents Danny and Jennifer, and his four-year-old sister Kayla had a whopping $2,545 to shop for toys, that they delivered to the south Vancouver hospital on Dec. 19.
Carson after remembering he had seen one like it last Christmas. He wanted to help sick and injured children.
His grandma Patti said a note attached to the jar, written by Carson, asked for others to donate and help.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen another house do it, and so I wanted to do it,鈥� Carson told the 91原创 Times in early November. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e gonna get toys and I think they鈥檙e gonna be really happy.鈥�
Visitors to his dad鈥檚 office, J & J Sales Ltd., #6 19510 鈥� 55 Ave. on the Surrey/91原创 border, donated to the fund and all the money collected was used to buy presents for kids staying at the hospital during the holiday season.
Once the original story ran in the 91原创 Times鈥� online and print editions, the fundraiser took flight.
One man dropped off box full of nearly 40 pounds of coins, that he had been collecting for 20 years. The donation amounted to roughly $500.
鈥淚 saw the cute little boy in the newspaper,鈥� Patti related, of what the visitor said when he walked into the office. 鈥淗e said 鈥業 have no grandchildren, I鈥檓 moving from B.C. to Ontario and I have these coins and I鈥檝e been collecting them for 20 years, and I want Carson to have them.鈥欌��
The man鈥檚 lone stipulation was that Carson buy himself a gift with some of the money, because he deserves a reward for his generosity.
Meanwhile, the story quickly went viral on social media and people were either dropping off donations at the office, or offering to e-transfer money to the cause.
鈥淭eachers (at Carson鈥檚 school) saw the story and acknowledged Carson in their monthly newsletter,鈥� Jennifer noted.
鈥淲e hit $1,000 in a couple of days,鈥� Danny said, adding that he was impressed by how trusting people were, that the money was going to this cause.
The hospital gave the family a list of the different age groups of the children there, and the toys that were most appropriate. The family bought a range of items from Legos to tablets to colouring books.
In total, they purchased 75 toys and 17 gift cards.
Carson said it was 鈥済ood鈥� to drop off the toys 鈥渂ecause I was giving toys to others.鈥�
Danny said it was an overwhelming experience.
鈥淭hey were so appreciative at the hospital,鈥� Jennifer added.
And Patti said the lesson that this drive has taught Carson (and Kayla) will be 鈥渢otally invaluable.鈥�
鈥淗e understands that those kids are there and they鈥檙e sick and they鈥檙e going to be there maybe on Christmas Day,鈥� Patti said.
