There is an urgent plea for help for the Owen Sound firefighters toy drive.
Acting Captain and Toy Drive Chair Wayne Flood says the donations of toys and money have not been coming in fast enough.
Flood tells Bayshore Broadcasting News more families have asked for help this year.
The firefighters gave a toy to 913 children last year — and Flood says that number is over a thousand this year.
Flood notes the demand for Salvation Army hampers have jumped 20 per cent this winter — and he points to the closures of NuComm and St. Clair Technologies as the reason why.
Flood adds they desperately need toys for kids aged 7 to 14.
There are 25 different drop off spots at stores across Owen Sound — and if you want to donate money — you can do that at the fire station.
Some of the drop off locations include Heritage Place, Zellers, Wal Mart, Canadian Tire, Pizza Hut, Boston Pizza, Zehrs, the Investors Group and Curves for Women.
Flood says they do get some discounts to purchase toys and expensive electronics that seem to be on every kids wishlist.
Flood admits he is a little stressed because they never want to see a child go without a toy at Christmas.
He hopes the snow will encourage people to donate to their toy drive.
The 2nd annual Toonies and Toys night with the Owen Sound Attack last weekend generated over 15 hundred dollars in cash and a thousand dollars worth of toys.
The fire department will hand out toys to kids on December 19th and December 20th.
