Ray Yurkowski
EMC Lifestyles – Campbellford – Santa’s sleigh, parked in the lobby of the Community Resource Centre, was overflowing with toys and food last week thanks to the generosity of dozens of people who lined up to drop off their donations as the Christmas Wish event got under way.
This year marks the fourth year for the toy and food drive and, according to Lori Buchan of Community Living, it all started with Salvation Army volunteer Dave Montgomery.
“He just wanted to make a difference,” said Buchan. “Toys were being collected in the Trent Hills area but they weren’t ending up here.”
And now, the Christmas Wish is even bigger this year, thanks to a collaborative effort between Community Living and the Campbellford Fire Department.
“It’s great to see the partnership in Campbellford,” said Captain Steve Manuel of the Salvation Army, who attended the kickoff event. “It’s tremendous that agencies and businesses are pulling together to make sure that families who need support at this time of year are looked after.”
“That’s the goal,” added Buchan. “Every child in Campbellford will have a toy this Christmas.”
As well as the Community Resource Centre, donations can be dropped off at a number of Campbellford locations including Canadian Tire, Rona Cashway, Giant Tiger, Home Hardware, Sharpe’s Food Market, No Frills, Stedman’s, Liquidation World and Campbellford Office Supplies. But there are only a few days left to help out. The Christmas Wish toy and food drive ends on December 13.
As you read this, another Christmas community effort is wrapping up for another year, the Week of Sharing at Kent Public School. For about ten years now, a week’s worth of events at the school are geared toward helping Kent families who need a hand during the festive season.
