The Port Hope Firefighters Association’s Annual Toy and Gift Drive was the most successful event they’ve ever had thanks to the community.
“Fill The Fire Truck” started on November 17, 2018 and wrapped up on December 15, 2018 at the Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services – Station 1.
On Saturday with the help of the firefighters, the Northumberland Nighthawks PeeWee AE hockey team, members from The Salvation Army along with volunteers from The Giving Tree, over 800 toys and gifts were passed one by one from the 1929 fire truck to The Salvation Army truck.
“I’m ecstatic,” said firefighter Mark Chard who organizes the annual event.
“This year it really snowballed because we’re back at Station 1 for the drop off location, we collected a few gifts along the parade route and the whole community just seemed to come together and donate.”
Chard said the firefighters are proud to give back to the community, especially the children at Christmas.
“We don’t want any family to be not happy at Christmas.
Kim Robinson is with Northumberland Nighthawks PeeWee AE brought in a number of members of the team on Saturday who donated to the toy drive and helped out loading them.
Robinson said coaching staff decided this year they wanted to give the team additional life skills beyond hockey which included fundraising.
The team decided to give $350 back to the community with it being divided into the firefighters association toy drive, the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank and seniors by purchasing cookies and chocolate.
“We took the them to Wal-Mart as a team and gave them the money and had to learn how to spend the money, how to make it go further, how to price match and bought things for each of the three groups.”
Robinson said they felt it was important for the children to appreciate sometimes how little money can buy.
“They were a little bit green that people didn’t have toys and people didn’t have food. They don’t understand the amount that is needed in our community.”
Cheryl Baker who is The Giving Tree Coordinator said the toys will be dispersed to children across Northumberland County.
Last year, The Giving Tree provided 1,300 gifts for children.
“This is our 30th year and we’re very proud of volunteers who have been able to manage this with the help of community partners like The Salvation Army to make it a little bit brighter Christmas for children.”
Helping make it a success in the community were Lakeshore Shriners, Empire Crossing, First Port Hope Boy Scouts, Northumberland Nighthawks Peewee AE hockey team, Christmas House tour put on by Acanthus Interiors Inc., Cameco, Jenny McCaig at Classic Rock 107.9, Today’s Northumberland, Clark Consulting Services, along with many individual contributors. All these groups plus the donation boxes that Roger Bernard had at Dreamers Cafe, along with 76 Ward Street, and Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services at Station 1.
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
