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For the third year in a row, a well-known resto-bar in the Annex is giving back to a needy family during the holiday season.

Insomnia Restaurant/Bar/Lounge, near Bloor Street West and Bathurst Street, will host its annual Christmas fundraiser Monday, Nov. 24.

The party gets underway at 6 p.m. and will include a silent auction, a raffle draw featuring a host of unique prizes, many of which have been donated by customers and local business owners.

Insomnia, located at 563 Bloor St. W., is also donating a dollar from every martini sold that night to the cause.

"It's just going to be a wonderful night and it just makes our Christmas," said Tasha Quintas, a manager at the popular bar and eatery, adding anyone who brings gift-wrapping supplies or canned goods or grocery certificates to the fundraiser would receive a small prize.

Quintas said she and fellow employee Amy-Jo Bard came up with the idea of helping families in need during the holidays because each year the establishment receives all kinds of gift baskets and gift certificates from its suppliers.

Quintas and Bard thought it was about time Insomnia gave back to the less fortunate.

"We thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could help out a family in need some way?' We brainstormed and we decided to do a fundraiser," Quintas said, adding she contacted the United Way, which connected her with the Yonge Street Mission.

In 2006, Insomnia helped one family.

"We raised so much money and had so many donations and gifts that the next year we decided to do two families," said Quintas, adding more than $5,000 in cash and gift donations were raised for last year's families.

The selection of this year's family was a little bit different and far more personal than ever.

Maria Scarfo and her husband Maurice Francois, an Anglican priest who leads the Spanish congregation at Holy Trinity Eaton Square, often frequent the local resto-lounge as they live nearby. Recently, Francois told Quintas about the Pumasongo family, who were going through a very tough time.

On Aug. 24, the family's 36-year-old matriarch Sonia sadly died from a rapid illness that affected her lungs just two months after giving birth to her fourth child, Anthony.

With the children's father not in the picture, the grandparents took in the youngsters: Olenka, 13, Astrid, 10, Flor, 5 and Anthony, 2 months.

Scarfo said her husband has an especially close connection with the family as he had both presided over the young mother's funeral as well as baptized her infant son shortly thereafter.

Sonia had come to Canada from Peru less than a year ago to give her children a better life.

"It's readily apparent that they are struggling financially. It's a truly devastating family situation," she said, noting the grandfather has since taken on a cleaning job to bring in a little extra money for the family.

Quintas said she couldn't imagine not helping the Pumasongos.

"It just breaks my heart every time I think about it," she said, her voice cracking a little bit. "They're all very sad. The children are all quiet. It's going to be a tough Christmas this year."

Quintas said the best part of the annual fundraiser is the families in need have absolutely no concept of what they're about to receive.

"The most exciting part is that we know what we can do for them and they have no idea what is going to happen," she said, adding Insomnia will also host a few gift-wrapping sessions in the coming weeks. All are welcome to attend.

Two weeks before Christmas, a van-load of wrapped gifts and donations will be delivered to the family by a crew of Santa-hat clad volunteers.

"We're just so grateful to anybody who wants to help us out," Quintas said.

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SIDEBAR

WHAT THE FAMILY NEEDS: groceries/food vouchers, canned goods, an assortment of clothing as the children are quickly growing or gift certificates for clothing retailers

OLENKA, Grade 8, loves sports especially basketball and likes to listen to music and sing. She is especially in need of winter clothes.

ASTRID, Grade 5, also loves sports and music and likes the colour purple. She's also in need of winter clothing.

FLOR, Kindergarten, loves to draw and paint and likes the colour pink. She's also in need of winter clothes and toys.

ANTHONY, four months but looks like six months, needs diapers, toys and Similac baby formula, which can be found at Metro grocery stores or at Shoppers Drug Mart.