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VIDEO: Great Nanaimo Toy Drive kicks off 2017 campaign

Toys can be donated at various locations throughout Nanaimo until Dec. 16
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Phoebe Lemon helps Santa Claus drop a big teddy bear into the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive box at Woodgrove Centre on Thursday. The charitable drive sees toys, games and books collected in time for Christmas. (KARL YU/News Bulletin)

The annual drive to collect Christmas gifts for less fortunate children has begun, running until Dec. 16.

The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive kicked off its 2017 campaign, and 35th season, Thursday at Woodgrove Centre, and organizers seek new and unwrapped toys, books and games for children up to 16 years old.

#santaclaus on hand for Great Nanaimo Toy Drive kickoff in #Nanaimo.

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“The toys, we’re accepting from today (Nov. 16) all the way through to Dec. 16 and then on Dec. 16 we do a mass pickup so that we have time to get them organized before setup,” said Carolyn Iles, toy drive spokeswoman. “Any toys that are delivered after that, we still use. We have emergency situations that we help with right up until Christmas and those few toys that are left, we store until next year.”

Registration takes place at Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank sites beginning Monday, Nov. 20 and running until Dec. 2.

Another round of registration takes place at University Village mall, at Fifth Street and Bruce Avenue, Dec. 4-8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Late registration takes place at the gym at 421 Franklyn St. Dec. 18 and 19 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Distribution also takes place Dec. 18 and 19.

Parents or guardians must bring B.C. care cards or other identification and proof of address.

For more information, including toy dropoff locations, go to www.thegreatnanaimotoydrive.ca.



reporter@nanaimobulletin.com

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Karl Yu

About the Author: Karl Yu

After interning at Vancouver Metro free daily newspaper, I joined Black Press in 2010.
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