Regina girl donates to Santas Anonymous in memory of her brother

A Regina girl turned heartbreak into holiday generosity again this year, raising hundreds of dollars and collecting toys to help families through 980 CJME’s Santas Anonymous campaign.

For six straight seasons, Harlee Polasek, now 11, and her mom Christine Polasek have run their own grassroots fundraiser in honour of Harlee’s younger brother Max, who died at age two from Gaucher disease, a rare genetic disorder.

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“It warms my heart every year,” Christine said. “She (Harlee) wants to honour and celebrate her brother and make Christmas brighter for everyone around her.”

The tradition began on the family’s first Christmas without Max.

Harlee, who was only five at the time, noticed an advertisement for Santas Anonymous while driving with her mom and asked why some children might not receive toys. She wanted to help make sure “every child woke up with a toy on Christmas morning.”

From that moment, the Polaseks began collecting donations each season.

A poster for Harlee Polasek’s 6th Annual Toy Drive, created in honour of her younger brother Max. The Regina family collects toys and donations each year to support Santas Anonymous. (Christine Polasek/Facebook)

This year, Harlee took the lead in a new way. She designed her own poster to spread the word and asked Christine to share it on Facebook.

The response came quickly. “Lots of people shared it on their stories,” Harlee said. “People started giving money and toys to us.”

By early December, she had raised $645 in cash along with an uncountable number of new toys, all delivered to the Salvation Army for Santa’s Anonymous. Over the past six years, Christine estimated that the family has contributed more than $12,000 in monetary donations, in addition to hundreds of toys.

Harlee said she is simply grateful people continue to support the cause. She also wanted to thank her classmates and teachers at St. Josaphat School for encouraging her again this year.

Santas Anonymous remains one of Regina’s longest-running Christmas charity programs. Operated in partnership between 980 CJME and the Salvation Army, the initiative ensures families in need can pick up new toys for their children each holiday season. With cost-of-living pressures high and food, rent and utilities stretching household budgets, demand for the program has increased.

Christine said that makes Harlee’s effort feel even more meaningful.

“Times are tough for a lot of people. If Harlee can help one more family have a better Christmas, that’s why we keep doing it,” she said.

How to donate

Santas Anonymous accepts donations until December 11. Regina residents can help by:

• Dropping off a new, unwrapped toy at participating businesses;
• Donating cash through the Salvation Army’s Haven of Hope;
• Supporting local mini-drives, like Harlee’s, which feed directly into the program.

Every toy and dollar stays local and goes toward helping Regina families.

As for what comes next, Harlee said she already plans to continue the tradition.

“I just want to help,” she said. “And I want people to remember Max.”

Read more:

• Fire at Regina community fridge ‘deliberately set,’ city says
• Cops and kids take over Regina’s Cornwall Centre for Christmas shopping spree