More than 3,200 children in Windsor-Essex will have a gift under their Christmas tree thanks to Sparky’s toy drive.
About 1,200 families received gifts this past weekend as part of the distribution for the annual toy drive.
One of the recipients was Mahdi Aohawash, a father of five.
“I am not working right now so it's difficult for me to go buy toys for my children,” says Aohawash. “Sparky help me a lot right now because they give me for all my children toys, new toys.”
But Sparky’s work is not done with Windsor Fire and Rescue.
Co-ordinator Ken Vickers says they will now visit children at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Met campus and Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital in the coming weeks to bring gifts.
Vickers says the need for donations will continue year-round, and they are accepting donations now for next year’s toy drive.
“We desperately need toys,” says Vickers. “Boxing day is a great day for sales. Store them in your basement and then just drop them off at the fire station.”
Windsor firefighters and police officers will also hand out toys to Syrian refugees at the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County.
