THUNDER BAY -- When the Cranton Wellness Centre started their annual Toy Mountain campaign 10 years ago, they collected around 100 gifts.
This year, they hope to top last year’s total of 430.
The campaign aims to collect gifts for children from infants to 18 years old for the Salvation Army to distribute over the holiday season.
“There are families out there who without this type of support from the community just won’t have a Christmas this year,” said Maj. Rob Kerr, executive director of the Salvation Army.
“There won’t be any presents under their tree.”
Last year, the Salvation Army saw more than 100 children use their services whether it be at their annual Christmas dinner or at the soup van.
“It seems the need in the community is growing by what we’ve seen,” said Kerr, adding it’s great to have partnerships with like the one with Cranton Wellness Centre.
“These are community issues. These are things that everybody in Thunder Bay need to be concerned about and it’s nice to see the folks of Thunder Bay stepping up and just responding and giving this kind of help to other people in the community.”
Cranton’s clinical clerical assistant Debbie Sklazeski said the response from the community over the years has grown and it’s their way of giving back to the community.
“We’re so blessed and so lucky. It’s great to help others,” she said.
Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at the centre on Memorial Avenue until Dec. 19. The Salvation Army will accept gift donations up until Dec. 23.
