Empire Theatres HRM Toy Drive wraps up, still collecting nationally
The Empire Theatres Toy Drive in HRM was set to conclude on Friday evening, but those who still wish to make donations are in luck, as the national drive continues through to Christmas.
The event kicked off on Tuesday and concluded on Friday at Empire Theatre locations in Bayers Road and Dartmouth Crossing. Now in its 16th year in HRM, the drive partners with local radio stations KOOL FM, 101.3 The Bounce, Q104 and C100 to help get the word out.
All toys donated at the Empire Theatres Toy Drive will soon head to The Salvation Army’s Community and Family Services Halifax to be processed before heading out in our annual Christmas hampers to local families, beginning next week. Last year, the drive collected over 25,000 toys and thousands of dollars in donations and gift cards, and all signs pointed to this year’s drive matching or exceeding those total.
Last year, thanks to the success of the HRM drive, Empire Theatres decided to take the Toy Drive national. From Dec. 1 through Dec. 23 you can drop off toys or gift cards to any of Empire’s 52 locations across the country. So even if you missed out on the fun of visiting the radio stations in HRM, there are still opportunities left for you to help make a child’s Christmas brighter.
Here are a few snapshots from the drive:
Clarence, left, and John drop off some toys from Winners, marking their third year participating.
Sasha, left, and Michael dropped off a donation from the Upper Tantallon Fire Department.
Marcel Hacquebard from SCN-Lavalin Defence Programs Inc. He and some co-workers went out and purchased many toys to donate on behalf of the company.
Ashley Doyle who stopped by with her mother Janice to donate gifts.
Erica Whalen and her husband Matthew with their two boys, Isaac and Keagan. They collected toys for The Salvation Army during a family Christmas party.
Angela Welsh from DORA Construction who dropped off a garbage bag full of toys, along with three corporate donations.
