Duane Hicks
Santa’s workshop doesn’t have anything on the Salvation Army’s Citadel this year.
The Victoria Avenue location was brimming with more than $20,000 in dolls, bikes, puzzles, action figures, building blocks, stuffed animals, and much more after am extra-generous outpouring by the public this holiday season.
The bounty of playthings came in through The Bargain Shop’s toy drive, 93.1 The Border’s “Burst a Bus” initiative, the first-annual Carl’s Eatery gift drive, and the “Stuff-a-Cruiser” campaign, as well as may other donations from area businesses and individuals.
They’ve gone out to district children this past week through the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas hamper program.
Lt. Ryan MacDonald said he’s very grateful of the generosity of the community partners and everyone who’s donated.
“I don’t think people understand quite the extent [of the need],” he noted.
“There’s always more people each year it seems that need services,” Lt. MacDonald added.
“This time of the year, we can go that extra mile and provide a kid an extra special Christmas, not just with toys but maybe financial sometimes, as well.
“We’re excited to do what we do all year-round, but this year is extraordinary,” he enthused.
“We’re just thankful.”
Lt. MacDonald said the number of families who applied for Christmas hampers this year is about 200—a total up from last year.
“That’s why we collected what we have,” he remarked. “We knew the influx this year.
“We knew there was more of a demand and I think we answered the call.”
“We couldn’t help all of these people without the community,” echoed Jill Pernsky, community ministries manager for the local Salvation Army.
She also said the food and monetary donations have been “amazing” this year.
Lt. MacDonald said the toys go out with the hampers, and he and volunteers try to match the toys with the children.
“That’s the fun part,” he remarked. “We get to go through each family—each individual to be precise—and we just want to fit the need the best we can.”
Darcy Banman of The Bargain Shop said the Scott Street business has done its toy drive for three years now and despite being a shorter campaign this year, it was more successful than ever with almost $10,000 worth of toys donated.
“This is awesome. I am overwhelmed to see all of these toys,” she enthused while visiting the Salvation Army’s Citadel last Thursday.
“It’s awesome that people in the community are willing to give,” Banman added.
We just ask if they’d like to donate a toy—and they do!”
Another local business that got in on the giving this year was Carl’s Eatery, which collected toys for the past several weeks at its new location on King’s Highway.
The toy drive was Ryann Scott’s idea.
“It’s sad when kids don’t get anything for Christmas,” she explained. “They go back to school and all of their friends are bragging about all of their toys and they got two things.
“It’s nice to give everyone something,” added Scott, who is the daughter of Carl’s owner and chef, Carl Scott.
And people did get on board with the idea.
“Everyone that I told was very pleased by it,” said Scott. “A lot of people, once they heard about it, brought stuff in.
“There was one lady who was eating supper and we told her about it, and she left and then came back 10 minutes later with an armful of stuff.”
Scott said “a good amount” of items were donated this first time around, and that Carl’s Eatery definitely will hold a similar campaign next Christmas.
