Every child should receive a present on Christmas, unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.
This holiday season a number of local non-profits and businesses are making sure these children are not forgotten.
Here is a list of Christmas toy drives with locations, taking place in greater Victoria this December.
The Zone at 91.3
The Zone 91.3 will be partnering with the Christmas Giving Network as they host their 13th annual toy drive on Thursday and Friday, December 9th from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Prior to the day of the big drive-thru event, people can drop off toy donations at the following select Peninsula Co-op locations:
- 6739 West Saanich Road (Brentwood)
- 321 Wale Road (Colwood)
- 4397 West Shore Parkway (Langford)
- 2320 Millstream Road (Millstream)
- 6429 Pat Bay Highway (Saanich)
- 10350 McDonald Park Road (Sidney)
To donate a gift card or cash prior to the event, donations can be mailed to the Zone on the 3rd floor, 2750 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC V8T 4E8.
- When: Thursday and Friday, December 9th from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Where: Mayfair Shopping Centre parking lot at the corner of Blanshard and Finlayson
BC Transits Stuff the Bus
Greater Victoria residents are invited to help fill a BC Transit bus with new toys, new clothing and non-perishable food items and cash donations.
All donations will go to The Mustard Seed Food Bank and The Salvation Army.
- When: Saturday, December 3rd from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: You can drop off your donations at the Tillicum Centre Save-on-Foods
CFAX Santas Anonymous – traditional Tree of Wishes
CFAX Santas Anonymous Society is one of Greater Victoria’s longest-running children’s charities. CFAX in-person donation drop-offs will be accepted at the following locations starting November 24th until December 18th.
Downtown:
Tesseract 2.0 Computer Systems & Services
1001 Douglas St Unit G11, Victoria, BC V8W 2C3
Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sidney:
Avenue B Home Decor
2417 Beacon Ave #101A, Sidney, BC V8L 1X5
Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Gordon Head:
Gordon Head Recreation Centre
4100 Lambrick Way, Victoria, BC V8N 5R3
Monday to Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tree of Wishes locations:
- Toys R US, located in the Mayfair Shopping Centre as well as the Westshore Town Centre
- Seven days a week during mall hours starting on November 24th.
For those looking to donate throughout December, make sure you keep an eye out for updates at www.cfaxsantas.com as more locations will be listed in the coming weeks.
CFAX Santas Virtual Tree of Wishes
If you don’t have the time or means of transportation to donate to a specific location, CFAX has created a virtual gift-giving initiative, and this is how it works.
First, you’ll need to search https://www.cfaxsantas.com/collections online. Here you will choose an age category. Then select the toy you prefer to donate. Once you’ve made your choice add it to the cart and complete your donation at the checkout.
- Where: Online via https://www.cfaxsantas.com/collections
107.3 Virgin Radio’s Toy Mountain
Join Virgin Radio as they help families in need this holiday season. Toy Mountain is back at Uptown Shopping Centre from December 10th to 16th. Ice cream will be served on the 10th and the 11th for all guests who stop by to donate.
This year’s toy mountain will collect new unwrapped toys and cash donations in support of CFAX Santas Anonymous.
Virgin radio will be broadcasting live from the 12th to the 16th.
Where: Uptown Shopping Centre
When: December 10th to 16th.
-
- Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saanich Peninsula – Christmas Hamper program
The Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank will be offering a Christmas Hamper for those who have registered before December 2nd. For those looking to register, you must be living in the Saanich Peninsula. Don’t forget to bring your ID for pickup.
- When: Registration ends on December 2nd.
- Christmas hamper distribution will take place from Monday, December 19th until Wednesday, December 21st, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: Register at the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, 9586 Fifth Street in Sidney
