Oakville Firefighters Announce 30th Annual Holiday Toy Drive, Anticipate Higher Need This Season.  Call For Donations So Every Local Child Can Receive A Gift This Holiday Season

OAKVILLE – October 24, 2022 – The Oakville Professional Firefighters Association is proud to announce its 30th annual holiday toy drive, with the goal of giving every local child an opportunity to enjoy a gift of their own this holiday season. The drive will kick off Friday, November 25 with a Teddy Bear Toss at the Oakville Blades Hockey Game, and will continue through Sunday, December 18.

All donations will be distributed directly to local families, institutions and community agencies supporting children and youth. 

Based on emerging information, need is expected to be higher this year as both families and family services organizations increasingly struggle with rising costs.  Oakville’s firefighters are hopeful that together with the community, we can meet this challenge and help ensure young people do not have to go without a holiday gift this year.  The Firefighters are issuing a special call for gifts and gift cards suitable for boys and girls ages 11 to 15, the age group for which the need is highest this year.  

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“30 years ago, one Oakville Firefighter was inspired to take up a gift collection to bring holiday cheer to children and youth in the care of child and family service organizations.  Our team has continued to build on this important tradition, and last year the drive provided gifts to 3,625 children and youth in need,” said James MacMurray, President of the Oakville Professional Firefighters Association. “Our sincere thanks go out to the Oakville community for their support in making sure every child and youth in our community has an opportunity to receive a holiday gift.”

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“Gifts collected during the annual Oakville Firefighters toy drive bring joy to so many children and youth who would otherwise go without,” said Pam Damoff, Member of Parliament, Oakville North – Burlington.  “As we mark the 30th anniversary of this event, I am proud to call on our great community of Oakville to come together in generosity and make sure every child gets the happiness of opening their own gift this holiday season.”

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Gift Suggestions

All donations are sincerely appreciated; however, the area of greatest need will be gifts for youth ages 11 to 15. Some gift ideas for this age group include: gift cards, sports equipment, electronics, posters, calendars, journals, school supplies, backpacks, clothing (winter hats and gloves), jewelry, hair accessories, cosmetics, blankets, shower products, movies and movie passes.  To assist in gift sorting, please ensure your gifts are new and unwrapped.  

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How to Donate:

Oakville PFFA Drive-Thru Toy Drive Event

Oakville residents are encouraged to bring a gift card, unwrapped toy, and/or non-perishable food donation item to Coronation Park on Friday, December 9 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., which will feature a holiday light display, Santa waving from his sleigh, and other festive guests. For details visit www.oakville.ca/residents/firefighters-toy-drive.html

Drop off a gift card, physical gift or non-perishable food item at:

• Toronto Rock Lacrosse Pre-Season game in Oakville Saturday November 26 7pm (Free admission - accepting donations to the Toy Drive)

• Any Oakville Fire Station

• Oakville Public Library branches: Central, Clearview, Woodside, White Oaks, Glen Abbey, Iroquois Ridge, sixteen mile

• Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre

• Sixteen Mile Sports Complex

• River Oaks Community Centre

• Trafalgar Park Community Centre

• Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre

• Town of Oakville Town Hall

• Mastermind Oakville

• Venture X Oakville

Donate by sending an e-Transfer

Send to oakvilletoydrive@gmail.com

Autodeposit is enabled, no password required.

Donate by mailing gift cards or cheques addressed to:

Oakville PFFA Toy Drive

Oakville Fire Station 7

2010 Joshua’s Creek Drive

Oakville Ontario

L6H 6E5

(Please make cheques payable to “Oakville PFFA Toy Drive”)

Get Involved 

Community groups and corporations are encouraged to spread the holiday cheer by organizing their own toy drives or donations to support the Oakville Firefighters Toy Drive. We can also arrange for firefighters to attend your event and collect your donations. For event ideas, or more information on how your organization can get involved, please contact us. 

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MEDIA AND EVENT CONTACT

Kurt Merriman

Toy Drive Chair

Oakville Professional Firefighters Association

Email: toydrive1582@gmail.com