
November 30, 2018 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
The Orangeville Police Service launched its annual toy and food drive in the parking lot at the Orangeville Walmart last Saturday, November 24.
The Toys for Tots program has been a Christmas tradition in Orangeville for many years with success growing annually.
“The residents of Orangeville and area have been very generous of this annual initiative over the years,” said Police Chief Wayne Kalinski. “ We are proud to support the Orangeville Food Bank and to raise awareness of the great public service of the food bank volunteers.”
The police had their van parked in front of the Walmart to allow people an easy opportunity to contribute.
“We do this in conjunction with the Salvation Army,” said Auxiliary Sargent Peter Venasse, who was manning the station on Saturday. “We collect the toys and the Salvation Army will distribute them. We do this every weekend from now until Christmas.”
People can donate a toy, food, or money.
The toys will go to a deserving youth in the community. The food is donated to the food bank.
“The money goes to the Salvation Army to purchase gifts we are short on. Sometimes we don’t get enough gifts for teenagers for example, so they’ll get gift cards,” Sargent Venasse explained.
Orangeville Police Auxiliary Unit members will be at Walmart every weekend until Christmas.
On Fridays they will be there from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays the police van will be there from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Toy and food donations can also be dropped off at the Orangeville Police Service building at 390 C Line. For residents who are unable to get to the Police Service building, volunteer Auxiliary officers will make arrangements to pick up donation.
Please call 519-941-2522, extension 2221, to arrange for this service.
Other toy drop-off locations in the community include the Orangeville Police Community Services trailer at Kay Cee Gardens, Optimist Club Christmas in the Park, the Salvation Army New Hope Church at 690 Riddell Road, the Salvation Army Thrift Store at 162 Broadway, Orangeville Town Hall, DUCA Financial Services at 16 Broadway, Shoeless Joes at 245 Centennial Road, LCBO on Broadway and Riddell Road, Royal LePage RCR Realty at 75 First Street, Winners at 55 Fourth Avenue, YMCA of Greater Toronto at 46 Dawson Road, and Kelsey’s Roadhouse at 115 Fifth Avenue.