Annual Christmas toy drive starts in Winnipeg

The Salvation Army will begin collecting toys for its annual Toy Mountain drive in Winnipeg this Saturday.

New, unwrapped toys of all sorts as well as cheques will be collected during the Blue Bombers game at Investors Group Field, organizers said at a news conference Wednesday.

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"As [fans are] cheering for the Blue Bombers to win and get into the playoffs, we want to cheer on these families," said MarkYoung, ministry director with the Salvation Army.

The toy drive is organized by volunteers with the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. This year the goal is to collect 15,000 toys to be distributed to kids across Winnipeg.

"All of our staff certainly see people at the times of their greatest need and that need is very much accentuated during the holiday season," said Winnipeg fire Chief John Lane. "It's the perfect time right now to begin to think about the spirit of giving."

The annual drive supplies toys to children of many ages, said a Salvation Army spokesperson. Trucks and dolls tend to be the most popular donations, but there is also a great need for toddler toys as well as gifts for young teenagers.