The 16th annual Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive takes place today (Dec. 4) between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
People can bring a new, unwrapped gift, or monetary donation to the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre, and receive a free breakfast.
Toys donated will help fill the SOS Toy Shop.
For the past 15 Christmases, Tigh-Na-Mara has hosted the Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive. This event has collected more than 20,000 toys and $150,000 in cash and gift cards for the SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program.
Last year was record-setting, with 2,527 toys donated, $23,266 in cash and cheques, $6,050 in gift cards, and an RBC community grant of $1,500. Plus, Tigh-Na-Mara staff donated 33 bikes through their Bikes for Tykes Program, where employees sign up for payroll deductions to put towards bikes for children and youth.
“We hope to at least match those numbers again this year, if not surpass them,” said Jim Hykaway, general manager at Tigh-Na-Mara.
The event takes place at the Walbran Ballroom, where staff expect to serve approximately 1,000 buffet breakfasts.
For those who can’t make it to the Toy Drive breakfast but still want to participate, a drive-through option will be available outside the main entrance. Participants can drop off their donation and receive a coffee and muffin to-go from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
All the donated gifts are taken to the SOS Toy Shop, where they are sorted by age group and organized on the shelves. Families and grandparents are given personal shopping appointments, and volunteer Elves assist them in finding the perfect gift.
For more information on SOS Caring for Community at Christmas, please visit www.sosd69.com.
