THUNDER BAY – For as long as Thunder Bay Firefighter Ryan Currie can remember he has always wanted to help the community.
After being a part of the Toys for Tots campaign for eight years Currie decided to step up and take on a new role as co-chair.
“It’s a big deal to me, and it’s a big deal for me,” Currie said. “To be co-chair of this great organization it feels nothing less than amazing.”
Every year Currie along with many other firefighters spend the Holiday season collecting donations for the 50-year-old initiative, Toys for Tots, which works under the Christmas Cheer campaign.
The off-duty firefighters collect donations at the toy fire station located in the food court at the Intercity Mall for less fortunate children who may not have another chance to open a gift on Christmas Day.
“It’s a huge honour to be part of this initiative for a number of years and to be co-chair and get really involved in it well that’s fantastic,” Currie said.
He added that it’s just a little bit of time and effort and the end result is what keeps him volunteering.
Last year, Toys for Tots raised a record high of $161,695.90, and Currie hopes to see that number again this year.
“It’s amazing the amount of money we have raised for Toys for Tots and the Christmas Cheer, it’s just fantastic.”
Currie said if he wins he wants to donate $200 to each finalist, which will give them an opportunity to donate the money to a charity of their choice.
“My choice will be the Christmas Cheer Campaign,” he said.
“I think it’s the right thing to do, paying it forward, it just makes you feel good, especially, this time a year.”
Christmas Cheer chairperson Joleene Kemp said Currie leads by example and that’s the kind of role model you want in Thunder Bay because it will help the community grow and thrive.
“In particular with his children.” Kemp said. “We have watched his children and his hockey team come and help with the Christmas Cheer campaign and they have learnt a lot from their father.”
Kemp added that by watching what Currie is doing in the community his children have a tough road to follow because they want to reach the bar their father has set for them.
“Having a community role model makes all the difference in the world because children are our future, especially in the role that he fills in being a firefighter,” Kemp said.
Currie is out in the community being the kind of person you would want to have helping.
Even if help is necessarily needed he is there to bring a smile to people’ faces and that’s when things begin to change and head in the right direction.
“Children are in awe of firefighters because they see them doing good work and they aren’t afraid of them,” Kemp said.
“They can come up to Ryan and feel comfortable and that spills over into the community where people who have a need are able to feel comfortable going to him.”
