Uncle Vinny’s Toy Drive Donates Over 1,500 Toys
Three years ago, the Maan family lost Vinny during the holiday season. He was a caring son, brother, and a loving uncle to his nieces and nephews. “He would do anything to make the kids happy,” says his sister Pinder. Vinny was known for his love of the Christmas season and enjoyed giving gifts and playing with the kids. “We really look forward to the holidays as a family … the gatherings, cheer, the lights,” but that year things were different says Pinder.
“We were sitting around, feeling sorry for ourselves, in a dark, dark place. He would have hated for us to be like that.”
The family decided they wanted to do something to honour him, to continue his legacy of gift giving, and help other families in need. In 2021 they launched Uncle Vinny’s Toy Drive and started to collect gifts around the community while family in Ontario took on the same initiative there. The initial goal was to collect 100 toys, possibly even 200, but to their delight the campaign took off. “Never did I think that we would hit over 1,600 and nearly 3,400 between BC and Ontario last year,” Pinder recalls. Toys collected in the Lower Mainland went to The Salvation Army Boundless Vancouver Toy Shop, a place where families who otherwise would not be able to afford presents are gifted the dignity to select toys based on their children’s interest right off the shelves.
This year The Salvation Army returned to the Maan family home in Surrey to pick up another generous donation of 1,580 toys that were collected in wrapped donation bins placed in local businesses. “This year we actually had people reaching out to us saying they want to be part of this,” says Pinder, noting that she is preparing to pick up some late donations to add to the total. Vinny’s father also worked to create toques that were sold for a minimum donation of $15, allowing the family to then use that money raised to buy additional toys.
“We were looking for an organization where we know the most will go back to the community, and we know The Salvation Army is known for that.”
The family’s favourite part of the toy drive is the joy that it creates, “seeing all the toys around that tree and knowing how many kids we’re able to impact, that’s a huge thing for all of us just to know how many families we will touch.” The family also enjoys using this toy drive as a reason to get together, especially around the anniversary of Vinny’s passing. Everyone is so excited to see how many toys they’re able to collect, “what a better way to honour him, especially over the holidays,” says Pinder.
After two great years the family plans to continue this new Christmas tradition, “we want to carry on his legacy for giving, carrying, and sharing … we’re working hard to make him proud, I’m sure he’s up there, smiling down and saying, ‘that’s because of me!’”
Donations for the Toy Shop are also being collected at the Toys“R”Us Broadway location in Vancouver till December 23rd. Those who would still like to make a donation directly to The Salvation Army this Christmas season can drop off cash, cheque or tap their credit card at our Christmas Kettles, or visit salvationarmy.ca.
