Volunteers wrapping thousands of gifts to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada

Shoppers at Calgary’s Southcentre Mall can have someone else wrap their gifts for a good cause.

It’s become an annual tradition at Southcentre Mall over the holiday season to find volunteers who wrap gifts to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) research, clinical care and advocating for life-changing treatments for close to 600 Albertans living with the genetic disease.

Jeanette Demers-Weir, regional manager in Alberta said 2025 was the 13th year the organization has been at the mall wrapping presents to raise funds and awareness for CF.

“Our goal is $20,000,” she said. “We’re hoping to make that because last year we were really close and we’re hoping to (reach it) this year.”

Demers-Weir said it’s become the biggest fundraiser for the agency.

Shoppers stop by the booth with gifts they’ve just purchased and there’s a suggested pricing list that is based on the size of the gift to be wrapped; $3 for small, $5 for a medium and $7 for a large.

Volunteers said they regularly receive donations well above the suggested prices.

“The volunteers are saying people are super generous,” said Demers-Weir. “We’re actually overwhelmed sometimes, because they give a lot more than what we think they would -- and honestly it’s been a great, great response.”

It’s known as the ‘Wrap Factory’ at the mall, but Cystic Fibrosis Canada calls it ‘Wrapping for a Cure’ and it’s also an opportunity to educate the public about what CF is.

“I have to be honest, most people have no idea what CF is,” said Demers-Weir. “Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. It primarily affects the lungs but it is a multi-organ disease that affects other organs too.”

Close to 150 volunteers will spend more than 1,200 hours wrapping gifts from December 1st to the 24th. And those volunteers say it’s a good cause because every dollar raised goes to Cystic Fibrosis Canada and it’s researchers.

Claire Johnson works for Brokerlink and said volunteering is a team-building event.

“It’s a fun thing we do with our team so it’s a way to give back together and (also to) celebrate,” she said. “Volunteering is an important piece of our company as well so we actually have days that we’re allowed to just go volunteer and being part of the community so it doesn’t really add stress.

“It can be kind of frantic but it fills the heart really well.”

‘A nice, clean, wrapped gift’

Nicole Ashauer works with Johnson and enjoys wrapping gifts during the holidays.

“I totally understand the people who come and get us to wrap them”, she said. “Because I personally love a nice, clean, wrapped gift and I think if you don’t have those skills, it’s quite all right to outsource for a good cause.”

The volunteer run ‘Wrap Factory’ is located at the north entrance of Southcentre Mall, beneath the escalators. There is a similar operation at North Hill Centre and organizers say they transform frenzied shopping trips into moments of meaningful impact, one beautifully wrapped package at a time.