2020 Toy Drive Wrap Up
2020 Oakville Firefighters Toy Drive a Success
Thank You!
Because of the generosity of Oakville residents, businesses and community organizations, we were able to distribute gifts to 3527 local children and youth. The children’s charities, institutions and agencies we work with, wish to express their gratitude to our donors and volunteers.
Thanks to Budds’ Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC for serving as our warehouse & online order receiving point
Holidays Are a Tough Time For Those In Need
Dr. Sara Cumming, Executive Director, Home Suite Hope:
“Holidays are often the most difficult time in our families' lives as they have to navigate their expenses with the expectations of Santa deliveries. The toy drive allows our families to experience the joy of the Christmas spirit without requiring them to go without groceries for two weeks. We can't express the relief that this provides us as an organization.”
“This year we on-boarded our largest number of participants from homelessness since we opened our doors. Additionally, we opened new programs to help with the Region's COVID 19 rapid rehousing program in an effort to provide case management to families who lost housing during the pandemic.”
The Challenge of the Pandemic
With many charities unable to accept physical items, and fire stations closed to the public, much of our normal operation was disrupted. Town Council, Town Administration and Fire Department Administration were extremely supportive and many town divisions stepped up to assist this year, with recreation centres and libraries serving as safe donation locations. In addition, the drive through donation event at Coronation Park was a huge success, and provided a safe alternative for residents to drop off donations. The town’s Recreation and Culture division and Parks division did an amazing job!
Santa at the Coronation Park Drive Through Donation Event
Packing donations, thanks to Home Depot on Cross Ave for donating boxes
Santa with perennial Toy Drive supporter Pam Damoff, MP for Oakville North - Burlington
P231 and L232 crews packing and sorting toys at Station 3
Normally we hold several large sorting days with multiple shifts of 30-40 volunteers. Obviously this year we had to change the process to maintain COVID safety protocols. Thanks to the hard work and flexibility of our volunteers we were able to spread out the operation to different teams and locations to get items sorted and distributed. Special thanks to the many members who volunteered their time to make deliveries, the station sorting leads, as well as the station 3 crews on all four platoons who worked very hard this year.
One of the two rinks donated by TOJA Grid, auctioned and installed by off duty firefighters to raise
money to buy gift cards
Thank You!
We are continually amazed by the generosity in our community; businesses, groups, clubs, and individuals stepped up and answered the call this year. Many of you could have taken the year off but instead decided to get creative and find ways to help. So many residents and businesses sent e-transfers which allowed us to purchase gift cards for charities who had all staff working remotely and could not distribute physical gifts this year. Oakville’s firefighters are proud to be involved in this community initiative which would not be possible without the support of all of you! Wishing you all a safe and happy 2021!
Thanks to the following groups and individuals for your support this year!
Abaton Integrative Medicine
Andrew Collins Photography
Avantika Clinic
Budds’ Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC
Buy Buy Baby
The Calendar Club Oakville Place
Cambrian Solutions
Clanmore Montessori School
Colborne Seniors Centre
Delta Bingo
The Dive Academy
Rebecca & Rob Fell
Home Depot (99 Cross Avenue)
H:OM Organizing
Inside Halton
Lockwood Kia
The Massage Clinic Health Centres
McDonalds Oakville
Mercedes Benz Oakville
Metroland Media Group
Mini Oakville/Budds’ BMW Motorrad
Temple Bar
Toja Grid
Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club
Tyrena & Ryan Miehm
Oakville Blades Hockey Club
Oakville Public Library
Oakville Rangers Hockey Club
Oakville Soccer Club
OMAC World Class Martial Arts
Orella Group
Palermo United Church
Petsmart North Oakville
Royal Lepage Realty Plus
Darren Singh, Royal Lepage Signature Realty
Sobeys Maplegrove
Town of Oakville
Velocity EHS
Walmart Oakville
West of the City Magazine
Zoe Wright
Follow the Oakville Firefighters Toy Drive on Facebook and Twitter
Media and Event Contact:
Kurt Merriman
Toy Drive Committee Chair
Oakville Professional Firefighters Association
Email: toydrive1582@gmail.com