THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay Firefighters are on a mission to ensure children in need receive a special gift on Christmas day.
On Friday, the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters launched the 50-year-old initiative, Toys for Tots, with off-duty firefighters collecting donations at the toy fire station in the food court at the Intercity Mall.
For Thunder Bay Firefighters Toys for Tots chair Paul Penna the thought of a child going through Christmas Day without a gift isn’t acceptable.
“It’s easy for me to volunteer my time at the (Toys for Tots) booth, I have children of my own and I remember being a child at Christmas time,” Penna said.
“Christmas is important to me, it’s important to my children and the thought of a child going through Christmas day without some kind of a significant gift is not a very good thought.”
Last year, Toys for Tots raised a record high of $161,695.90, and firefighters hope see that number again this year.
More than 3,400 children received toys from last year’s campaign, the number has risen significantly this year and firefighters are expecting to help out about 4,000 children this year.
“There’s a lot of need in Thunder Bay right now,” Penna said. “That doesn’t mean there’s a lot of need any other time of the year, but this time a year there’s a lot of need and again to us it comes down to Christmas time.”
Penna added that Christmas should be a special time for children, and that’s what the firefighters are aiming to do.
Their goal is to make sure children in Thunder Bay don’t go without a gift on Christmas.
In Penna’s experience, he has encouraged some adults who have come up to him tears in their eyes, and with a hug, they’ve shown him how important this campaign can be.
Thunder Bay Christmas Cheer chairperson Joleene Kemp said the Toys for Tots campaign allows Christmas Cheer to buy Christmas toys for each children in need.
“Without Toys for Tots we wouldn’t have the ability to be able to raise the funds necessary to buy brand new toys,” Kemp said.
Kemp said this year, the numbers appear to be high than last year, and the need seems to have grown.
“We’re somewhat nervous about that, we are going to make sure we are able to provide for as many children and families as possible.”
Kemp added that together with Toys for Tots nothing is impossible, and we will make a difference for all those in Thunder Bay.
