Santa and his helpers will be gathering toys for local kids at annual parade

If you’re planning to watch the big guy in red on his annual tour through downtown Huntsville, don’t forget to bring a new, unwrapped toy this year.

In a brand new initiative, the Salvation Army will be towing a sleigh behind its family services van while volunteers fill it with donations of toys collected along the Santa Claus Parade on November 24. The toys will be distributed to local kids in need this Christmas.

“We’ve talked about it for a couple of years and decided this is the year to do it,” says the Salvation Army’s Major Darren Wiseman.

They’ll accept donations for items suitable for infants through 17-year-olds, and Wiseman says that those two age groups — infants and teens — are the ones they receive the least amount of toys for.

If you miss the parade, the OPP Auxiliary’s annual Stuff-a-Cruiser event will be held on December 9. Bring your new, unwrapped toys to the cruisers parked at Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire. “That’s going to be a great day,” says Wiseman. “We’re hoping to fill (the cruisers) two or three times.”

The Salvation Army is also looking to the community to help fill its shelves this December. On Wednesday, December 6, local firefighters will be going door-to-door for the 28th annual Project Porchlight food drive to collect non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army Food Bank.

“We’ve gone from serving 60 people a month a year and a half ago to close to 300 a month now,” notes Wiseman. Part of that increase is due to what the Salvation Army Food Bank is now providing. “Our food bank has changed so much in the last six months. We can now give fresh produce, frozen meats, and eggs and milk and bread.” (Read an earlier story on Doppler about the food bank’s new offerings here.)

This Christmas, they’re looking to the community to donate staples like pasta and pasta sauce, peanut butter, jam, Kraft Dinner, canned tuna, canned salmon, other canned meats, canned soup, canned chili and stews, Chunky or Habitant soups, canned vegetables, pork & beans, canned spaghetti and canned tomatoes.

Staff and volunteers at the Salvation Army are also taking registrations and preparing for their annual Christmas turkey giveaway. As of today, they’ve received close to 200 application for this year.

Finally, the annual Moose FM radiothon is happening on December 8 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. “We are looking forward to people calling in and donating and listening to some great music throughout the day,” says Wiseman.

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