Huge toy donation a ‘happy shock’
Falls company collects $50,000 worth of children’s gifts for Salvation Army
Santa’s going to need a bigger sleigh.
The Salvation Army of Niagara Falls picked up its biggest-ever donation of toys Thursday $50,000 worth, stored on 10 skids at Factor Forms Niagara Ltd.
“I was in shock. I was in very happy shock,” said Lt. Erin Metcalf, when she learned of the donation.
She said: “We’ve never received a donation that big. We’re still sort of processing it all.”
The collection was the idea of Factor Forms co-owners Chris Gleis and Derek Thompson. Working with their staff, they started canvassing their dealers and suppliers shortly after buying the Earl Thomas Avenue company in March.
“Whatever they believed a young boy or girl would really like to receive is what they donated,” said Gleis.
“So we’ve got a whole barrage of different toys – from cars to dolls, dollhouses, race tracks, stuffed animals. A whole host of things.”
Gleis said Thompson is “incredibly well versed in this type of campaign” through his work with a former business partner.
“I was involved in another business in Oakville before we came to Niagara Falls and we did Toys for Tots drives for the last 16 years,” said Thompson. “We were just shy of $950,000 in donated toys.
“All the kids should get a gift at Christmas. Salvation Army is a good cause, and you know what? You can’t just take from the community, so we try to give back.”
He and Gleis say next year they plan to work with neighbouring businesses to collect at least $100,000 in toys for Christmas.
Thursday’s donation “was a heck of a lot of toys,” said Metcalf.
They came in just as the agency prepares to distribute its Christmas gifts this Tuesday and Wednesday.
While their program isn’t as big as Project Share’s, it is their largest yet – 107 adults with 234 children have signed up for assistance.
“This year we are setting it up where the parents actually get to come through and choose the items for their children” at the Dorchester Road church, rather
than simply being given a gift bag, said Metcalf, who is a pastor there.
“They will be matched up with an elf and the elf will take them through the toy shop, and they’ll get to choose gifts for their kids.
“We’re trying to give the parents a little more choice … so they’re not feeling like they’re just being handed stuff, they get to choose gifts for their kids.”
Salvation Army guarantees parents each of their kids will receive one large, medium and small toy, plus a stuffed animal and a book. As well, families can receive up to five $25 grocery store gift cards.
Registration continues for a few more days before Monday. Individuals or families who are not already signed up for Project Share’s Christmas program can apply to the Salvation Army at 905-358-8394.