FORT ST. JOHN -- The holiday season is in full swing in Fort St. John, and local businesses are now accepting donations of new unwrapped toys to help give kids a Christmas.
The 'Twisted Off Road' Christmas Toy Drive is being organized by Autographics Trim and Signs and Fort City Chrysler, with donations benefitting the Women's Resource Society.
This year’s drive focuses on gathering toys for pre-teens and teens. The Society noting a surplus of gifts for babies and toddlers but are limited in what they can give to older kids.
"They get a lot of donations for babies and the little ones because that's what you think of when we think of Christmas, but the pre-teens and the teenagers also are expecting Christmas presents and they don't get as many donations for that," said Delilah Gurbacs, Manager, Autographics Trim and Sign.
Gurbacs’ and a friend at Fort City Chrysler reaching out to the Society to organize the drive and understand the charity’s needs, compiling a list of gift ideas ranging from books to gift cards.
Despite the specific need, all toy donations will be accepted. Last year, the drive successfully raised a pick-up truck worth of toys for families in need with the hope of doubling that in 2024.
“We started planning in October -- we're going to go bigger and better this year and just do a lot more,” said Gurbacs.
Donations can be dropped off at toy bins located inside each of these businesses until December 12th. A fundraising event will coincide with the Fort St. John Christmas Parade taking place on December 7th.
