
Community, Hope, and Generosity at Yorkminster Citadel Transforms Lives at Christmas
At The Salvation Army Yorkminster Citadel in Toronto, the promise that no child will be without a gift this Christmas is led by the generosity of a vibrant community and devoted congregants dedicated to the CTV Toy Mountain Campaign.
“Gratitude fuels our purpose in bringing joy to children on Christmas and we recognize our lasting impact. The true gift lies not just in what we give, but in the collective kindness that makes it possible. The joy we pass on reflects the generosity woven into our community spirit,” says Yorkminster Corps Officer Major Corinne Cameron.
This year Yorkminster Citadel expects to register more than 250 families for Toy Mountain, ensuring children have a special gift to unwrap on December 25. That equals a 10 per cent increase over 2022, and a 50 per cent jump since 2020.
To help meet this increased demand, Yorkminster Citadel has committed mission partner support from community organizations, companies and individuals volunteering to sort and pack toys for children, ahead of the December 12 live Toy Mountain broadcast on CTV News Toronto.
The Salvation Army doesn’t confine this generosity to the holiday season alone. It extends year-round, touching lives like Tahmina’s, who will join the Toy Mountain broadcast. Tahmina and her four children fled Afghanistan when the country fell to the Taliban in August 2021.
“We flew on a military plane to Germany where we lived in tents for 45 days – we didn’t have enough clothing or food during this time. After this we flew to the United States where we stayed for a couple of months until our arrival in Canada in November 2021,” Tahmina recalls.
Not long after coming to Canada, Tahmina, a schoolteacher, learned from friends about resources and support programs available at The Salvation Army Yorkminster Citadel.
“The Salvation Army said they could help us with food, clothing, and household items. On our first visit there they also mentioned that they could help us with Christmas gifts for our children. We felt so lucky to have found The Salvation Army!” she says.
Tahmina’s is just one of many lives transformed by The Salvation Army through wrap around support programs that deliver a future filled with hope and positivity. This assistance is reflected in the aid of mission partners I.T.I. Canada, Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company and Economical Insurance Company, companies giving their staff time off to volunteer by sorting and packing gifts for children through the Toy Mountain campaign.
During the Toy Mountain broadcast on December 12, the Music Academy Recital will spotlight the talents of participants from Yorkminster Citadel’s thriving music program, which provides free lessons to local children.
The community is invited to enjoy some festive music and contribute to the magic of Christmas by dropping off new, unwrapped toys at Yorkminster Citadel or at any donation location in the Greater Toronto Area. A list is available at toymountain.ca.