The folks in the red serge will be helping the guy in red during the seventh annual 911 We Care Toy Drive for Share Family and Community Services.
Until Dec. 14, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam residents are asked to bring new, unwrapped toys for a child or teen (up to 17 years old) for Share's Christmas toy program to the Coquitlam RCMP main detachment or their local community police station.
The 911 We Care Toy Drive began in 2009 with a group of Coquitlam RCMP dispatchers who wanted to find a way to give back to the communities they served so they started to collect toys for Share Family and Community Services before Christmas. These toys are distributed to vulnerable families registered for Share's Christmas hampers who might otherwise not get a visit from Santa.
This year, ’tween and teen gifts are in high demand as 47% of the youths served by Share are over the age of nine, although no donations for kids will be turned away.
And for those not sure what to buy, gift cards are a great idea.
“Families that have trouble making ends meet find it especially hard this time of year, and the idea behind the toy drive is that children shouldn’t have to go without over the holidays,” said Alia Montgomery, one of the '911 We Care' coordinators.
"If you can, why not keep the spirit of the season alive by picking up an extra toy when shopping for your loved ones and dropping it off at one of the collection centres," she said. "You’d be amazed at the difference you can make in the life of a child or teen."
The drop-off locations are:
• Coquitlam RCMP detachment, 2986 Guildford Way, Coquitlam (next to Coquitlam city hall);
• Burquitlam community police station: 413-552 Clarke Rd., Coquitlam, 604-933-6833;
• Ridgeway community police station, 1059 Ridgeway Ave., Coquitlam, 604-933-6888;
• Northside community police station, 3312 Coast Meridian Rd., Port Coquitlam, 604-927-517;
• Downtown community police station,: 2581 Mary Hill Rd., 604-927-2383.
