It was the best year yet for the Trent Hills Fire Department Christmas Toy Drive.
The Trent Hills Fire Department has been having the annual event for nearly 20 years when former Fire Chief Tim Blake started the tradition.
Even though it’s called the fire department’s toy drive, Fire Chief Shawn Jamieson said it’s the community that makes it such a success each year.
“It’s very community oriented. We have lots of people Inclusion Northumberland, Northumberland OPP, Warkworth Institution, Miller Waste Management and businesses around town collect toys.”
Bail’s Book Club also donated a number of books.
Businesses like Be My Guest Family Restaurant had a Thanksgiving dinner and Polmenna Barn had a Halloween Dance with both donating money.
Organizing and collecting starts in September, but things really get rolling towards the end of November.
“It just grows every year.”
It took firefighters and their families a full two days to lay out thousands of toys in the Trent Hills Emergency Services Base on Doxsee Avenue in Campbellford.
“That’s not collecting, that’s just putting the toys on tables and organizing it.”
Firefighters moved trucks out of the bays so vehicles could be brought in to load the vehicles with toys for Christmas.
Staff from all schools pick out students and talk to their parents for permission.
On Tuesday evening, school staff met at the Emergency Services base and waited for 7 p.m. when they could go out and pick through the toys on their lists for over 100 students from pre-school to grade 12.
Before people entered the bay there the toys were, Jamieson and other firefighters presented $2,000 to each of the schools in Trent Hills.
Be My Guest Family Restaurant co-owner Stephanie Papioannou said it was the first time they’ve participated in the event.
For the last 16-years they’ve held a Thanksgiving Dinner free of charge and if people want to donate they can.
Each year they donate to a different organization.
This year it was for the toy drive.
“We raised the most money we’ve ever raised – $8,500. Which is absolutely phenomenal.”
Papioannou said, “we couldn’t be prouder of our town. Everybody just came together and supported this wonderful cause.”
Taking a look at the rows of toys, Papioannou said, “it’s mind blowing to think that all these toys are going to local kids – it’s great.”
At 7 p.m. school staff entered the bay and were checking their list more than twice for the right toys to get.
Firefighters holding plastic bags helped staff with their selections and loading them up into the vehicles.
St. Mary Catholic Elementary School secretary Lori Petey praised the work of the community.
“I think the community is wonderful that they’ve given so much to families in need. And I think the fire department setting it out like this and asking us to come in and help is wonderful. To know that there is so much for any age group. To know that there is so much for any age group. I know the families are very grateful and appreciative as well.”
Jamieson said without the support from the community the toy drive wouldn’t be the success that it is.
“That’s what makes it such a great thing. It’s great support from community members and we’re kind of the middle-man to help distribute.”
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a great feeling at the end of the day.”
A lot of food was collected as well that will go to the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
