As more families struggle, Newmarket residents, employees and companies open hearts during holidays

Town collects record amount of toys and food, Southlake contributes mountain of toys to police Holiday Heroes drive

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 23, 2022
Lisa Queen

Amid growing need, the giving spirit is alive in Newmarket this holiday season.

Donations from residents, employees and businesses to the Town of Newmarket’s toy and food drive, and Southlake Regional Health Centre’s toy campaign, are a barometer of how donors have opened their hearts and wallets this year.

On the afternoon of Dec. 20, the town’s largest-ever stockpile of donations was handed over to the Newmarket Food Pantry and the Northridge Community Church of The Salvation Army, which serves Aurora, Newmarket, northern King Township and other surrounding communities.

“The pressure on parents at any time in any circumstance at this time of year can be something, but for those who are trying to figure out how to make it work at all, this is just such a stress reliever and allows them to enjoy the season like everybody else,” Mayor John Taylor said.

The Salvation Army is supporting 210 families in the Newmarket Heights neighbourhood alone.

“This is what it’s about, to make sure everybody in our community can celebrate, everybody in our community can have a great holiday season and every child can have a special Christmas morning,” Taylor said.

Northridge will serve 800 to 1,000 families over the holidays, community relations representative, Angela Covert, said.

“I’m quite overwhelmed (by the amount of donations to the town’s campaign), to be honest,” she said.

Vesna Mitchell, the food pantry’s resource development co-ordinator, was also overwhelmed.

“I’m also blown away by what I’m looking at,” she said.

“At the food pantry, we’re looking at the highest numbers we’ve ever seen. We’re serving 60 per cent more community members than we have in the past. We’re looking at approximately 1,500-plus per month, with the rising cost of food and housing, and this is even with the launch of the community fridge.”

At the event, James Stortz, president of Newmarket company SE Telecom, who had donated several toys to the drive, pledged an additional $2,500 to the pantry.

On Dec. 15, Southlake staff and doctors donated a mountain of toys to York Regional Police’s Holiday Heroes campaign.

Southlake has been participating in the drive for more than 10 years, helping police raise more than $2 million in money, toys, clothing and food for families in need.

“It warms my heart to see the teams at Southlake coming together to demonstrate the spirit of giving and helping families in need,” hospital president, Arden Krystal, said.

Deputy police chief Alvaro Almeida said the force is again “blown away” by the hospital’s generosity.

“Southlake’s donations will help deliver a happy holiday season to thousands of families right here in York Region,” he said.

“This includes families who are struggling to make ends meet, victims of human trafficking and survivors of domestic abuse, as well as their children.”

Many businesses have collected donations for the holidays, including Murray Chiropractic, which celebrated its most successful campaign in 20 years.

Patients donated 32 bags of toys to Holiday Heroes and another $1,800 in gift cards, donated to St. Vincent de Paul to distribute to families in need.