Welland, O.N., November. 1., 2022—This holiday season, join CHCH as they kick off the annual CHCH Toy Drive at the Seaway Mall. Bring unwrapped toys to Santa’s Castle in Centre Court from November 14th – December 24th and help us make sure every child in our community gets a new toy this Christmas! All toys donated are collected by the Welland Optimist Club and are distributed by Community Christmas Toys.

The CHCH Toy Drive has been a success for several years at the Seaway Mall. The Community Christmas Toys Board notes that “Welland is a city of generous and giving residents and businesses” and that “for 41 years our community has rallied together to make the difference in the lives of our fellow residents.”

They go on to mention that while the aim is to bring toys—gift cards and wool are also appreciated. The target ages for the toy drive extend beyond toddlers and children, encompassing pre-teens and youth as well. Furthermore, donations such as wool help a group of passionate knitters “complete projects that they are passionate about and provides them with a sense of pride and knowledge that they are contributing to keeping others warm. This group knits mittens, hats, slippers, and bed jackets which are a special treat to families, but also for daycare centres, elementary schools, senior centres and shelters who are constantly working to keep people warm throughout the winter.” This goes to show how a generous donation of skill, money, or time, can make a lasting impact whether big or small in our own backyard.

If you’re interested in learning more about these organizations or how you can be actively involved, visit https://www.chch.com/toydrive, https://www.wellandoptimistclub.ca, and https://www.facebook.com/wellandchristmastoys for more.