Teenagers are often the forgotten ones at Christmastime, said Maj. Mervyn Halvorsen, executive director of the local Salvation Army.
Donated gifts most often go to the smaller children, he said Monday at the launch of the Toy Mountain campaign at the Cranton Wellness Centre on Memorial Avenue.
“It’s nice to see the smile on the teenager’s face when something special comes for them,” he said.
Chiropractor and naturopath Alan Cranton began the Toy Mountain campaign seven years ago and he asks the public to purchase and drop off gifts for children from now until Dec. 16 at his office. The gifts will be distributed to children by the Salvation Army for Christmas.
“I started doing this as a result of some friends who were doing it in the Ottawa area. They said, ‘you’ve got to do this. It’s great; it’s fantastic.’ It’s been growing every year,” Cranton said.
Last year 175 gifts were donated; Cranton hopes to surpass that number this year and Halvorson believes the community will come through.
“Thunder Bay is a great community, a great giving community,” he said.
Everyone who donates a gift will have their name entered to win a gift basket worth $700.
