-Toys collected for Santa’s Cause for Kids
by Sylene Argent
A night of holiday magic ushered in the Christmas season on Saturday, as the Coca-Cola Canada Holiday Truck Tour kicked-off in Essex.
From the Foodland parking lot, area residents were able to take pictures with Santa and enjoy the sight of the decorated Coca-Cola Canada Holiday Truck, lined with hundreds of lights, all while listening to Christmas music.
Justin Renaud, Sales Development Manager for Coca-Cola Canada, noted Essex was the first stop for the Coca-Cola Canada Holiday Truck, and it would be its only local visit over its nation-wide tour, besides conducting a pass-by in Windsor.
He was pleased with the turnout at the event in Essex that followed the slogan “delivering the magic,” noting many area families came out to kick-off the holiday season.
Area families were also able to visit with local firefighters from Essex Fire & Rescue during the event, who were not only keen on passing along fire safety tips heading into the holiday season, but also collected new, unwrapped toys for Santa’s Cause for Kids.
For the past 21-years, the Santa’s Cause for Kids program has collected gift items for children of families facing economically challenging times.
Through this program, area residents and local shoppers are able to purchase a new, unwrapped toy at several local businesses that participate in the annual collection drive, and place it in a depot for pick-up. Sometime in mid-December, local firefighters and OPP officers work together to pick up the new, unwrapped gifts that local residents and shoppers placed in the Santa’s Cause for Kids drop-off depots. The items will be forwarded to the Essex Salvation Army, the Essex Area Food Bank, the St. Vincent de Paul chapters in Harrow and McGregor, and Zeta Kappa Sorority for its Santa’s Sack program. These organizations then distribute them to families in need. Renaud was overwhelmed to see the number of toys donated at the event, which filled the box of a pick-up truck, and hopes that the event kicked-off what will be a successful 2022 collection drive.
Those wishing to donate to the Santa’s Cause for Kids program can do so at participating area businesses that have a program sign and toy depot.