Small community provides thousands of Christmas gifts for children in need
Thousands of gifts are being prepared to be sent to families across Simcoe County.
Volunteers with the Friends of Keewatin were busy packaging boxes and filling vehicles full of presents for children ahead of Christmas morning.
The group collected over 4,000 toys that will be distributed to local charities and organizations.
"These are children who otherwise might not receive a toy at all because their families can't afford it," said Wayne Coombs, the president of Friends of Keewatin.
On Wednesday, charities like the Lions Clubs of Port McNicoll and Coldwater and the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre came to the distribution site to begin the delivery process.
"We are supporting 27 families this year with a total of 68 kids, so every toy that we get helps us reach our goal," said Sheri Black, the secretary for the Lions Club.
"Their support has made a huge difference in how many families we can service. Last year we serviced over 150 families. This year we're already totalling over 250," said Kendall Lamb, the young family and child service coordinator for Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre.
The list of charities and organizations has grown this year to include two Ukrainian Welcome Committees in Barrie and North Simcoe.
The groups say many families arrived in Canada with very little and are still adjusting to life in Simcoe County but knowing they can provide a special Christmas for their children brings comfort during a time of uncertainty.
"The toys are very important for people who came from Ukraine," said Iryna Leskiv, an organizer with the Barrie committee.
"We thank you so so much from all my heart. Thank you."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
Ontario man loses $1,500 applying for Nexus cards on social media
The trusted traveller program between Canada and the United States is extremely popular and almost two million Canadians have a Nexus card.
NEW Facial reconstruction reveals what a 40-something Neanderthal woman may have looked like
Scientists studying a Neanderthal woman's remains have painstakingly pieced together her skull from 200 bone fragments to understand what she may have looked like.
Campus protests: Israeli academics say their universities are 'best chance' for peace
One of the demands of pro-Palestinian activists who have set up protest encampments on university campuses in Canada and the United States is a severing of ties with Israeli universities.
Concerns about Plexiglas prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.
Weight-loss drug Wegovy available in Canada starting May 6
The makers of Ozempic say their weight-loss drug Wegovy will be available to patients in Canada starting Monday.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
NEW Companies letting customers opt out of Mother's Day ads
In an effort to balance the profitability of Mother's Day with the pain it causes some people, some brands are offering customers the choice to opt out of Mother's Day email advertising.