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Toys for Tots launches

Thunder Bay Professional firefighters hoping to raise in the neighbourhood of $150,000 for this year's campaign.

THUNDER BAY – Without Toys for Tots, thousands of local children might wake up on Christmas morning to find empty stockings and no presents under the tree.

Thanks to the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters, a lot fewer youngsters go without toys and other every day essentials.

Each holiday season firefighters volunteer their time to collect donations at Intercity Shopping Centre, last year bringing in about $150,000.

With the need continuing to grow, campaign co-chair Paul Penna said they’re confident they’ll reach a similar amount in 2017 – thanks in part to a $50,000 kick-start through the local Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign.

“We’re going to succeed, for sure,” Penna said on Thursday, launching this year’s campaign at the city’s largest mall.

“Thunder Bay’s generosity over the years has been incredible at Christmastime. It’s overwhelming how good this city is to us and to other charities as well.”

Penna said they haven’t set an actual target for how much they want to collect, noting they are never sure just how many children are in need.

He added that last year’s goal fell a little short of expectations, but they still managed to make it work.

“Last year we actually went back a little ways in our fundraising, but we were still able buy toys for everyone who needed them,” Penna said.

“It sounds like the number of children is up this year, so we’re hoping to be at that $154,000 mark, if possible.”

The toys are distributed as part of the Christmas Cheer hamper program, whose campaign will launch on Dec. 1.

Christmas Cheer chair Joleene Kemp said the toys are an important part of the program, which also includes a week’s worth of food to qualifying families.

“There’s nothing better than seeing a child get excited by a brand new toy,” Kemp said. “Who doesn’t want something brand new at Christmas.”

Kemp noted initial numbers supplied through Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support program were a bit staggering.

“They were about 20 per cent higher than last year at this time,” Kemp said.

Those numbers don’t include the working poor, some of whom qualify for Toys for Tots and Christmas Cheer.  



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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