Video – Photo Gallery – Trent Hills Fire Department Toy Drive Is What Christmas Is All About

Pete Fisher
9 hours ago
• Categories: Community, Editor Choice, Local, Photo Gallery

The Trent Hills Fire Department Toy Drive wrapped up on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at the Trent Hills Emergency Services Base in Campbellford.

Fire Chief Shawn Jamieson said the evening is always a “special night.”

Teachers from all the schools in Trent Hills collect names of students who would benefit from toys and each year the Trent Hills Fire Department leads the charge, but the community always goes and above and beyond to support the cause.

It takes approximately two days for the firefighters to set up the presents on tables throughout the bay of the firehall. They are sorted as best as possible in categories like remote control vehicles, books, dolls, colouring books, games and Hot Wheels to name a few.

Gifts were also picked up at the local Canadian Tire when they had the Black Friday sale.

“It allows us to get more for the money.”

Teachers from every school in Trent Hills drive their cars into the bay of the firehall. They open the trunks and doors of their vehicles then wait in a room until 7 p.m. and Jamieson escorts them out into the bay where a sea of presents awaits them.

Each teacher is helped by a firefighter or OPP officer who carries a bag for the presents to be put in.

The fire department and community has been graciously collecting toys for over a month for the event.
The Toy Drive started approximately two decades ago lead by former Fire Chief Tim Blake, Murray Kirkland and other volunteers.

Each year thousands of toys and cash are collected from around the community for the event.

“It’s a great evening and the community of Trent Hills should be very proud of themselves – it’s a great accomplishment.”

Jamieson said the fire department is the facilitator of the annual event, “but it’s the community that does it.”

Just before the teachers went shopping, Today’s Northumberland spoke with St. Mary’s Elementary kindergarten educator Amy-Jo Doherty.

Doherty has been involved in the program as a educator since the start approximately 20-years ago.

“What’s really great is you get to see how families are in need sometimes come back and pay it forward.”

“In today’s day and age we know how many families are really struggling to make ends meet, not just with Christmas, but with groceries. So it’s a great way for our community to get together and share the Christmas spirit with each other.”

“This is what Christmas is about for me. I really look forward to this. The best part is me being able to know that families are going to have a chance to have a really great Christmas.”