THUNDER BAY – Since 2004 the Thunder Bay Wellness Centre has set up a Christmas Tree and collected gifts for children.
In nearly a decade-and-a-half, chiropractor and centre owner Alan Cranton said they’ve managed to make a lot of Christmas mornings a little brighter than they might have been through their Toy Mountain campaign.
“We’ve been working for 14 years in conjunction with the Salvation Army. We’ve collected over 4,000 toys and thousands of dollars in cash that people have donated to us, that we in turn give to the Salvation Army and they distribute it to the children that needs those things in Thunder Bay,” Cranton said on Wednesday, launching this year’s effort.
It was just the right thing to do, he added.
Taking part is simple, Cranton said.
“We’re looking for new, unwrapped gifts that we put beneath the tree, and we’re looking for ages from newborns right up to teenagers, so 17 or 18 years old,” he said. “With some of the teenagers, of course it’s harder to choose what gifts to get for them, so we get a lot of gift cards.
“So cash, gift cards or unwrapped new gifts are what we want.”
Lori Mitchell, the executive director at the Salvation Army Community and Residential Services, said it’s great to have partnerships like Toy Mountain in the community.
“We are able to give lots of kids a great Christmas and we would otherwise have to buy toys. So when people come and donate to groups like this it makes such a difference for us.”
The presents will be distributed at the Salvation Army’s annual dinner at the Valhalla Inn.
“We have a toy room set up and parents can actually come and choose toys for their children. We also distribute toys on our soup van. Families come for that. And also we have some of our clients who have children and are able to get gifts for their kids as well,” Mitchell said.
The reaction is priceless, she added, both the children and their parents.
“A lot of our clients are the working poor, who are working really hard to make ends meet. And when Christmas comes it’s such a challenge because you want to be able to give your kids a great Christmas and sometimes when there are bills to be paid, it makes it more difficult,” Mitchell said.
“When we’re able to provide this kind of thing, the parents really feel like they can give their kids great gifts.”
Donations are being accepted until Dec. 21 at the Thunder Bay Wellness Centre, which is located at 701 Memorial Avenue. The first wave of presents will be handed out on Dec. 16.
