The Cambridge Salvation Army will have a new location to distribute toys collected from its annual toy drive thanks to help from Milestone Integrated Marketing.
Normally The Salvation Army house their Toy Mountain Toy Shop in their own building on Shade Street, in the downtown Galt area of the city. But this year they are on the cusp of a major building renovation and could not ensure their own building would be available for the entire Christmas season.
This meant that they had to look for a temporary location in which to literally ‘set up shop.’
“We reached out to a major retail location in the city to ask for some donated space and, unfortunately, that location could not help us on this occasion. We were in somewhat of a panic as to what we were going to do! But then Braden Polyak at Milestone Integrated Marketing heard about our situation, and thought he could help," said Captain Darren Woods, executive director of The Salvation Army in Cambridge, in a press release.
Polyak connected the Salvation Army to the owners of 50 Ainslie Street North, which is currently vacant, and on the market to be leased.
"Milestone graciously decided to donate the space to us for November and December, so we can house our Toy Mountain Toy Shop there," Woods said.
"As an organization we are very indebted to Milestone, and greatly appreciate their kindness. But the real beneficiaries of their generosity are the 3000+ children who will get toys from us and so have a Merry Christmas this year. Milestone really came through for our community and I extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to them!”
The Salvation Army in Cambridge is a partner in the Waterloo Region Christmas Support Network, a group of charities in the area who work together to ensure everyone has the opportunity of a good Christmas/holiday season.
Residents of Cambridge can apply through the network’s website to receive Christmas food from the Cambridge Self-Help Foodbank, or to receive toys/gifts from The Salvation Army for children aged 16 and under. Help from other local charitable organizations can also be accessed through this website.
Last Christmas, The Salvation Army in Cambridge provided toys and gifts for 2,875 children across the city.
This year it is expected that demand will be greater still, Woods said.
In Cambridge, The Salvation Army distribute toys to those in need by having the parents/guardians come to their ‘Toy Mountain Toy Shop’ to pick out gifts of their own choosing for the children in their care.
This provides a level of dignity to those who utilize the program and ensures the children concerned will get something that they want and like.
Salvation Army staff and volunteers are now readying the toy shop for distribution to begin Dec. 4. Distribution will continue right through until Dec. 22.
Toy donations can be dropped off at 50 Ainslie St. N. from Monday to Friday each week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pickup of large donations can be arranged by calling 226-387-7652.
Anyone interested in volunteering at the Toy Shop is asked to contact Captain Danette Woods on 519-465-7657 or email [email protected]
Running in tandem with the Toy Mountain Campaign is The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign.
In Cambridge, kettles will go out in 15 retail locations this year.
This is The Salvation Army’s only major annual fundraiser in Cambridge. Some of this money is used to buy toys/gifts for the Toy Mountain campaign when donated toys fall short.
The remainder of the money is used to fund our busy food bank, free emergency clothing bank, School Back Pack program, sending 20 underprivileged kids to summer camp, and funding Operation Hope in Cambridge – a mobile feeding and resource program for the unsheltered in the city.
The public is encouraged to visit a convenient kettle location to donate by cash, cheque or credit card.
Anyone able to volunteer some time to stand as a greeter on a kettle is asked to contact Amanda Murphy on 226-387-7614 or [email protected].
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