Donated toys are again being collected across the city to make Christmas a little brighter for all children. (Great Nanaimo Toy Drive)

By Alex Rawnsley

christmas wishes

Great Nanaimo Toy Drive again ensuring ‘every child has a toy under the Christmas tree’

Nov 14, 2023 | 5:29 AM

NANAIMO — The mandate is simple: make a child’s Christmas wish come true.

For over 40 years, the volunteer-run Great Nanaimo Toy Drive has stuffed stockings, wrapped donated presents and fulfilled Christmas wishes from children across the mid-Island, with recent editions of the event helping well over 1,000 kids every year.

Janet Mirau, an organizer with this year’s event told NanaimoNewsNOW the Altrusa Club got the ball rolling in 1983 by collecting gifts and handing them out, but the concept has only grown since then.

“They wanted to make sure that every child has a toy under the Christmas tree and that no-one would be forgotten. Over the 40 years, the joy that the citizens of Nanaimo have brought to the community has just continued to magnify.”

Registration opens Tuesday, Nov. 14 for parents or caregivers to put their child forward for a gift.

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Those wanting to take part can register online through the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive’s website, or by phone. Information for both methods is available on the Toy Drive’s website.

No in-person registration is available this year.

“This is a place for people who are in need, who are maybe facing challenges economically this year…to register with the toy drive and we work together with the community who provide donations and support that allow us to provide a toy, book, a game or maybe a stuffy to each of the children that are registered.”

Mirau expected demand will increase this year due to challenging economic conditions.

Collection bins will go up at a variety of locations across Nanaimo beginning Wednesday, Nov. 15 with people encouraged to donate anything from toys and games, to gift cards and more.

Anyone struggling to figure out what item to donate can consult lists available on the website.

“That list is actually generated from the recipients themselves,” Mirau said. “We do ask what areas of interest the children have and from year to year that does change and you sort of get a shift. Lego always tends to be a really big one.”

Toys are collected regularly from the drop-off points and organized at a central location, provided by the Maranatha Gospel Community Church in the city’s north end.

Mirau said the church answered an 11th hour plea last year from the Toy Drive.

“They helped us out last minute last year and then have continued to offer us a partnership with them to use their incredibly beautiful space that gives us all of the things that we need in order to get the toy drive setup and to be able to create an environment for our recipients, who can come and select the toys that are good for their children.”

Distribution begins Dec. 11 and runs through Dec. 16.

Cash donations to the Toy Drive can also be made online, while organizers are always looking for volunteer help to make the operation run smoother.

Applications to donate time to this year’s campaign are also on the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive website.

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