Article content This year surprised me with stories of generous and original gifts. There were the huge ones, such as the anonymous donor who pledged more than $1 million to cover an Edmonton child’s life-saving drug treatment, and smaller, creative ones, like the man who buys white running shoes and gets kids to decorate them with hopeful messages for hospital workers. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or Elise Stolte: Questioning the charity model, Edmonton residents find their own way to tackle pandemic hardships Back to video Or William Johansen, a Mill Woods restaurant manager who lost his job when COVID-19 shut food kiosks at NAIT. This year he set up a Santa’s mailbox in his front yard for the neighbourhood children. He’s written and delivered roughly 100 personalized replies to encourage them and keep a bit of magic this year.