November 13 to December 20 2009

What is TOYS for TOTS?

 Toys for Tots' initial objective, which remains the hallmark of the program today, is to 'bring the joy of Christmas to needy children'. Its goal is to deliver a message of hope that will build self-esteem and motivate children to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The program was so successful, it was expanded nationwide wherever a Marine Corps Reserve Unit existed, the following year.

In 1993, the Peel Regional Police Service initiated the endeavour in Canada; The Halton Regional Police Service began its own similar Toys for Tots program in 2000. 

In 2008, The Halton Toys for Tots campaign experienced its best year ever, surpassing all expectations. It is especially noteworthy that Halton citizens dug down deep and pulled together to help make the 2009 campaign so successful in one of the most economically difficult years in Canadian history.

It is anticipated that the citizens of Halton will once again pull together in 2009 to help those less fortunate than themselves, in what is expected to be another rebuilding year for the Canadian economy.

Members of the public are invited to donate cash, Canadian Tire money and/or new, unwrapped toys at any Canadian Tire location or any police station in Halton Region between November 13, 2009 and December 20, 2009.

Off-duty uniform and civilian employees of the Halton Regional Police Service will donate their time each weekend during the campaign to collect cash, Canadian Tire money, and new, unwrapped toys to ensure the program's continued success.

In addition to Halton Regional Police Service employees donating their time for this worthwhile cause, many community partnerships have been forged with many stakeholders in the Halton Region, including, sports organizations, local businesses and schools.

The Salvation Army will subsequently identify families experiencing difficulty and distribute toys purchased and/or collected to them. The toys collected in each Halton community will be distributed to these identified families within the same communities.

The official kick-off for the 2009 campaign will be held on Friday, November 13, 2009 during the grand opening of the new Oakville Canadian Tire store (1100 Kerr Street, Oakville). In addition to Toys for Tots representatives, Chief Gary Crowell of the Halton Regional Police Service, as well as representatives from stakeholder organizations such as the Oakville Salvation Army, Canadian Tire, Mandarin restaurant and Halton Honda, will all be on hand to help launch the campaign.

The Hamilton TigerCats will be supporting the event and will have a player or two assisting the Toys for Tots elves to collect donated toys, cash and Canadian Tire money. Please support the event by bringing a new, unwrapped toy or some Canadian Tire money or cash, to help buy toys for local Halton children.

For more information, contact:

Visit the Toys 4 Tots web site  

or mail to

 Toysfortots@haltonpolice.ca