Since 1998, the Fergus Lions Club and Reliable Ford have teamed up to collect toys, gift certificates, and cash donations for the toy drive.
But the 22nd annual Fergus Lions Reliable Ford Toy Drive will look quite different this year because of COVID-19.
The Centre Wellington Food Bank’s (CWFB) Christmas hamper program will not be accepting toys this year, due to pandemic restrictions, and will focus solely on the collection of gift cards and cash donations.
Gary Waterhouse, toy drive chairman, said there is one very important thing to keep in mind for this year’s drive.
“They want gift cards, or gift certificates, but they must, absolutely must, have the cash receipt for the purchase of that gift card,” Waterhouse stressed.
Waterhouse says this is so the food bank can see the value on the card, and ensure they are all distributed properly to those in need.
He says it’s going to be a tough year for the food bank because of the pandemic.
“We are a community, and we need to help those in the community that are experiencing problems because of this COVID-19 thing,” he said.
Waterhouse said he is hoping that next year they can go back to their normal way of doing business.
“For this year we can’t, we can’t deny the fact that the people who need the services of the food bank need it now, and probably more so than they did in the past. So, we’re trying to achieve as many gift certificates and cash donations as we possibly can,” Waterhouse said.
He says the Fergus Lions Club donated $2,000 to the CWFB Christmas hamper program to get it off to a good start.
Gift cards can be dropped off at Reliable Ford or at 124 John St. in Elora.
The Fergus Lions Reliable Ford Toy Drive runs until Dec. 2.
Gary Waterhouse, toy drive chairman: