Toys were collected at a recent Nanaimo Clippers game, one of many community initiatives to try and ensure every kid has a present under the tree. (Great Nanaimo Toy Drive)

By Alex Rawnsley

FINAL PUSH

Great Nanaimo Toy Drive facing ‘greater need and less donations’ this season

Dec 13, 2022 | 2:59 PM

NANAIMO — It’s a problem not entirely unexpected, but still a problem regardless.

Almost 1,200 children are registered to receive a gift through the annual Great Nanaimo Toy Drive this year, but donations are down.

One of the many organizers behind the toy drive, Stu Setch, said there is always hope demand for their services will drop but it’s made much worse by toy bins across the city sitting not as full as needed.

“I don’t know what the reason for that is, obviously the weather’s been terrible and there’s a lot of families out there struggling, but we do have the combination of a greater need and less donations from the community which is a problem.”

In-person donations of new, unwrapped toys can still be made at Woodgrove Centre, Nanaimo North Town Centre and Country Club Centre.

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The toy drive is also accepting cash donations through their website.

Setch said cash and gift cards are especially helpful at the moment, allowing them to either give the gift cards directly or use the cash on a last-minute shopping spree.

Collected toys will be distributed to registered families towards the end of this week.

“It brings us into the Christmas spirit, so we’re asking anyone in the city if you have anything extra to give, we’d greatly appreciate it so every kid in Nanaimo has a toy under the tree this Christmas,” Setch added.

More information on potential gift ideas is available on the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive’s website.

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