St. John Ambulance employees believe any child who celebrates Christmas deserves a gift.
This weekend, armed with an empty ambulance, a team of St. John volunteers hosted their fourth annual Stuff an Ambulance With Love toy drive for children in need throughout Windsor and Essex County.
The event is held in conjunction with Sparky’s Toy Drive and will continue Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at Windsor Crossing in the parking lot behind the Hugo Boss Outlet store.
“Last year we got to go to the registration part at the Salvation Army building,” said James Osborn, St. John Ambulance’s unit co-ordinator of the Windsor Frontier Youth Division. “It really hit home for me personally to see the people. It puts faces to the work that we do.”
Osborn said they’re desperate for toys for 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls.
He suggested arts and crafts supplies, sketch paper, coloured pencils and markers, model cars, health and beauty and personal hygiene products, hats, gloves, scarves and pajamas as gift ideas.
Osborn said movie gift cards also make great presents for older kids.
St. John’s has collected $7,400 in toy donations over the past three years. Osborn said their goal is to reach the $10,000 mark this year.
Donors are also being asked this year to include an inexpensive smoke alarm partly in response to a recent report that showed Windsor has an above-average incidence of fire-related deaths and injuries.
Those who miss this weekend’s drive can drop off toys at any Windsor fire station until Dec. 1.
Kristina Gawne, 4, was shopping with her grandmother, Helga Gawne, Saturday when she spotted Sparky.
After a visit to Toys R Us, Gawne returned with a doll clutched in her hands.
“She told me she wanted another little girl to have a doll like her,” Helga said as her granddaughter handed Sparky the toy.
Thanks to Sparky’s Toy Drive more than 3,000 local children received a gift last year.
For more information go to windsorfirefighters.org.
Kristina Gawne, 4, left, gets a hug from Sparky after donating a toy doll to Sparky’s Toy Drive at Windsor Crossing, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)
Kristina Gawne, 4, left, gets a hug from Sparky after donating a toy doll to Sparky’s Toy Drive at Windsor Crossing, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)
Sparky is busy collecting donated toys at Sparky’s Toy Drive at Windsor Crossing, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)
Sparky is busy collecting donated toys at Sparky’s Toy Drive at Windsor Crossing, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)
