THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay’s generosity knows no bounds.
The annual Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters’ Toys for Tots campaign is a shining example. The public stepped up with a recent record contribution, turning over $162,199 to the organization, allowing them to provide Christmas presents to nearly 4,000 children this year.
It’s unbelievable said campaign chair Paul Penna on Monday, after unveiling this year’s total outside their makeshift fire station adjacent to the food court at Intercity Shopping Centre.
“Christmas is just so important to children. It’s important to families and it’s probably important to most people. Just the thought of any child going through Christmas without any sort of significant gift under the tree is really not that nice,” Penna said.
“For us to have a chance to make a difference in 4,000 children’s lives, it feels really good. It makes it all worthwhile.”
The number surprised Penna, given the ongoing pandemic that has reduced foot traffic at Intercity Shopping Centre at various times over the past two years.
“Last year was our first year doing this through the pandemic and we were so uncertain last year what was going to happen. Thunder Bay came through for us with $144,000 and change for us last year. We were kind of striving to hit that this year, so this kind of blew our minds that Thunder Bay stepped up this much,” Penna said.
“I don’t know what it is about the hearts of Thunder Bay, but they’re generous, especially at Christmastime.”
Toys for Tots partners each year with the Christmas Cheer Fund, the toys and presents handed out over a two-day period each December when the hampers, containing a week’s worth of groceries, are given out to families in need.
