Thanks to the generosity of local residents, thousands of gifts will be handed out to kids all around South Simcoe this Christmas.
South Simcoe police officers, new recruits, auxiliary members, and volunteers unloaded new toys and stuffed animals for Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions in Barrie Monday morning that were packed from floor to ceiling into a mobile police command post vehicle.
"We have a lot of need for all of the communities we serve," said Melanie McLearon, director of communications for Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions, adding there has been an increase in need this past year.
"(This lets) children known they are special and they are remembered."
McLearon said South Simcoe police's annual Stuff the Police Command Post toy drive, which looks for new unwrapped toys, gift cards and cash, is "by far our best fundraiser."
Most of the items that were donated through the South Simcoe police toy drive will be picked up by foster parents and caregivers in Connexions' kin placement program, she said.
In the New Year, Connexions will be focusing on a brand new fundraiser called Sweet Dreams, aimed at collecting cribs, beds and other sleep items to help provide a safe sleep environment for young children in need around Simcoe Muskoka, McLearson said.
"That's a new one for us. We've seen a real need for that in our communities," she said.
During the toy drive, donations could be dropped off at both North Division in Innisfil and South Division in Bradford West Gwillimbury, or at the command post itself at a number of locations, including the Canadian Tire Store in Alcona, and Walmart in BWG.
By the time the command post made its last appearance on Saturday, in front of Bradford’s Canadian Tire Store on Holland Street West, the trailer was nearly full “and the front end is full of stuffed animals,” said auxiliary Chris Moran.
Moran was one of many auxiliaries, officers and police staff who volunteered their time to accept donations at the mobile command post, which is usually called into action at serious crime scenes.
Cash donations rolled in as well.
“We use the money to buy other things that aren’t donated, like hockey sticks, LOL dolls, curling irons for the young ladies… It’s an age group that gets forgotten," said auxiliary Ryan Gainer.
On the weekend, Gainer was waiting for the arrival of the Minor Bantam A Bulldogs hockey team – the players were bringing gift donations, just before they headed to the arena for a game – and accepting donations from shoppers, many of whom stopped to ask about the campaign, went into Canadian Tire, and came back with another toy to add to Toy Mountain.
“It’s just amazing when community comes together,” said one shopper.
- With files from Miriam King
