For the eighth year in a row, firefighters from Peterborough Fire Services are teaming up with The Toy Shop in downtown Peterborough to collect toys for the Salvation Army’s annual toy drive.
“We love this opportunity to show how much we appreciate not only what the Salvation Army does, but also what the downtown means to us,” says Chief Training Officer David Braun, noting it’s a yearly tradition loved by his co-workers.
Braun likes the fact they are showing support to the heart of the city — which does not go unnoticed by Jean Grant, owner of The Toy Shop at 176 Hunter Street West.
“From the beginning, I knew the firefighters wanted to support local business while also providing toys for local children,” says Grant.
The firefighters of Local 169 are giving $1,700 to The Toy Shop, which Grant estimates will translate into $3,000 worth of high-quality toys (up to 300 toys).
Grant works hard to get great deals from her suppliers that she can pass on to the firefighters, to get as much value for their money as she can.
She focuses on high-quality educational toys that are aimed at babies as well as older children 10 years old and up — an age range The Salvation Army has identified as a gap in toy drives.
The generosity of local firefighters, when combined with the discounts and additional toys The Toy Shop provides, have made this annual partnership a great success.
Braun and a few firefighters will bring a fire truck to The Toy Shop on Saturday, December 12th at 9:30 a.m. Mascots Sparky and George King of the Downtown will be on hand to help load the fire truck.
The firefighters will then take the load of toys to The Salvation Army Toy Drive at Lansdowne Place, where Country 105 and Energy 99.7 are broadcasting live from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Country 105 and Energy 99.7 “Miracle Broadcast” will feature local talent performing holiday tunes, while donors will be invited to share their stories on air of how they collected toys for the drive.
