Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau down 75% in toy donations
EXTENDED: We are excited to extend our Toy Drive in support of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau until end of day Thursday Dec. 10th. Toys can be dropped off in store at 7 London Drugs locations.
In a year when so many holiday events have been cancelled, London Drugs together with the Vancouver Fire Fighters Charity have found a safe and simple way to collect toys and gifts desperately needed for thousands of families who depend on the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, which is experiencing 75% less donations than in 2019.
On December 8 from 8 am to 3 pm, Vancouver Fire Fighters will be stationed outside seven Vancouver London Drugs locations with Christmas toy collection bins. Masked up individuals can simply drop off toys and gifts to the outdoor toy bins while maintaining physical distance from the fire fighters and others.
“In a year like no other, it is more important than ever we do everything we possibly can to make this Christmas a happy one for families who are struggling,” said Clint Mahlman, President and Chief Operating Officer, London Drugs. “The Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau supports the operations of local Christmas Bureaus and other agencies throughout the Lower Mainland offering assistance to thousands of families in need. We are hoping the public will see this as a safe and simple way to drop off a toy that will go directly to children and teens to open on Christmas morning.”
The Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau is seeing an increase in families accessing the services of the Christmas Bureau because of COVID-19. With the challenges presented by COVID protocols around accepting, sorting and distribution of items, 2020 has been challenging to gather the amount of both toys/gifts and monetary support that is so desperately needed.
“Having been forced to cancel our large toy drive events because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as anticipating more families accessing the services of the Christmas Bureau this year also as a result of COVID-19, we are hoping our community can help us at this difficult time by donating a toy, or even making a monetary donation at lmcb.ca,” said Chris Bayliss, Executive Director, Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. “We do this one toy, one child, one family at a time. No matter the situation, a child is a child at Christmas time, and during the holidays all they want is that toy to unwrap just like all of their friends.”
The public is welcome to drop off new unwrapped toys and gifts for children, tweens and teens at the following locations from 8 am to 3 pm on Tuesday December 8:
- London Drugs – 710 Granville St.
- London Drugs – 2230 West Broadway
- London Drugs – 525 West Broadway
- London Drugs – 3328 Kingsway (drive-through option)
- London Drugs – 1622 Salt St. (Olympic Village)
- London Drugs – 4588 Dunbar St.
- London Drugs – 2091 West 42nd Ave
If individuals are unable to drop off a toy at those locations, all Lower Mainland London Drugs locations will happily accept donations at all customer service desks which will be forwarded to a central location for distribution to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. According to the Bureau, items for newborns, tweens and teens are always in need. Ideas for teens include cosmetics, jewelry, electronic and gaming items and gift cards.
“Vancouver Firefighter Charities and London Drugs share many common values,” James Docherty, Executive Director, Vancouver Firefighter Charities. “We believe that everyone in our community deserves something special for the holiday season and that this year, more families are struggling in the wake of world events. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, together, we can make this holiday season better for those in-need as a community.”
