If giving is the spirit of Christmas, then Fred Mirza doesn’t just embrace it — he embodies.
The 82-year-old from Etobicoke continues generously to give his time, both to the Scouts and the pc28¹ÙÍøStar’s Santa Claus Fund.
“The best part is the look on the face of the kid when they receive the box when they least expect to get it,†Mirza says.
A retired Transport Canada Marine Safety Inspector, Mirza’s former job involved inspecting all types of shipsÌý—Ìýregistered in Canada or foreignÌý—Ìýon the Great Lakes, for safety of the ship and their personnel, and included inspectingÌýengineers and engine room crews.
Since retiring, Mirza has volunteered for the Santa Fund, helping with everything from organizing depots to managing the logistics of deliveries across the GTA.
He says one of the reasons he chose to volunteer for the Santa Fund is because 100 per cent of what is donated goes directly to those who need itÌý— the pc28¹ÙÍøStar absorbs all the administration costs.
He’s been volunteering with the Santa Fund since 1991, initially helping deliver boxes in North York, before moving on to manage “secret†depots in Scarborough and Etobicoke. He was recruited for a bigger volunteer role by “Mrs Claus†herself, Barb Mrozek, the Star’s now retired director of charities and philanthropy to help with logistics.
“What was mind boggling, you’ve got 50,000 kids and some 50,000 boxes from age group zero to 12. And each box has age-appropriate items and then you received 50,000 socks and 50,000 shirts you and then sort them age-wise,†says Mirza. “That requires a lot of organizing; hats off to the pc28¹ÙÍøStar for doing all that stuff.â€
However, it’s the marriage of scouting and volunteering with the Santa Fund that has given him his greatest satisfaction. Mirza has been a member of the Scouts since his childhood in India, joined Scouts Canada in 1985 in Ottawa, and continued as a leader after moving to Whitby and later Etobicoke.
“The kids learn some good qualities in a fun way,†Mirza says of scouting. “They don’t even realize that they’re learning something. It’s not a classroom atmosphere at all. It’s outside in the open. And yet they’re still learning at the same time they’re having fun. The concept is something quite unique. It increases leadership qualities in them. And it encourages team-work.â€
Mirza and others helped get the Scouts involved in volunteering with the Santa Fund, believing there’s a natural synergy between the two, especially for kids who learn to see the world in different ways in interacting with families from less robust economic neighbourhoods.
“That’s an eye-opener for a lot of kids,†says Mirza. “They didn’t know that they’re really blessed with what they have got. There are a lot of kids who are not as blessed as they are, the lifestyle they have is totally different from what our scouts know.â€
While Mirza no longer manages the depots, in recent years, he still comes when asked to pack and sort boxes at “Santa’s Warehouse†near Weston and the 401.
“The hardest are the toothbrushes and toothpaste,†he says. “They’re so small.â€
The scouting group he belongs to started in 1990, all former scouts from Mumbai. The group is registered as the “100th pc28¹ÙÍøScout Group”, but within the local Zoroastrian community it is known as “The First Zoroastrian Scout Group” since it was the first Zoroastrian faith based Scout group in North America.
Though not Christian, Mirza celebrates Christmas.
“We celebrate everything,†he says.
And it will be a family Christmas in Ottawa this year, filled with grandkids. What does he want for Christmas?
“Just peace and quiet and happiness, really,†he says. “At 82, I think I’ve got everything.â€
The pc28¹ÙÍøStar Santa Claus FundÌý
GOAL:ÌýÌý$1.5 millionÌý
TO DATE: $1,387,283.41
With your gift, the Santa Claus Fund can help provide holiday gift boxes that inspire hope and joy to 50,000 financially vulnerable kids.Ìý
How to donate:Ìý
Online:Ìý
To donate by Visa, Mastercard or Amex, scan this QR code or use our secure form atÌýÌý
By cheque:ÌýÌýÌý
Mail to The pc28¹ÙÍøStar Santa Claus Fund, 8 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5V 0S8Ìý
By phone:ÌýCall 647-250-8282Ìý
Tax receipts will be issued.Ìý
TO VOLUNTEER:Ìý
EmailÌýscfvolunteer@thestar.caÌý
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:Ìý
Instagram: @torontostarchildrenscharitiesÌý
Facebook: @thetorontostarchildrenscharitiesÌý
Twitter: @TStarCharitiesÌý
LinkedIn: The pc28¹ÙÍøStar Children’s CharitiesÌý
#StarSantaClausFundÌý
