OPINION: Making a difference one toy at a time in Vaughan
Help bring joy to kids this season, writes Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua

Yorkregion.com
Maurizio Bevilacqua
Nov 30, 2017

The festive season is upon us, and it is a perfect opportunity to pause and reflect on the year we have had.

It has been a great time for the City of Vaughan, and the excitement is not over. In the next few weeks, we will be welcoming the subway in the heart of our new downtown, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. As of Dec. 17, we will be able to ride the Toronto Transit Commission’s Line 1 Extension from our very own neighbourhood.

As we count our many blessings, I am reminded that this is the season of giving and there are people who need our help. The city is continuing its tradition of giving back to families in need and running its eighth annual toy drive. There is nothing more rewarding than bringing smiles to children on Christmas Day. That is why each year we support the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish, a program that benefits hundreds of thousands of people in the Greater Toronto Area, including Vaughan.

Since 2010, we have been bringing joy to kids with a wrapped gift under their trees. With a goal of collecting 10,000 toys, the city partnered with St. Padre Pio Catholic Elementary School to officially launch this year’s campaign on Nov. 20. As one of the largest donors of toys and financial support to this initiative, Vaughan has collected tens of thousands of toys and given more than $25,000 through the Mayor’s Gala and Mayor’s Annual Charity Golf Classic. That is thanks to our generous citizens who have helped to support our mission to move this city forward without leaving anyone behind.

We are fortunate that the spirit of generosity defines our community. I know we each have it in us to make tomorrow better than today and contribute to the greater good. I encourage local schools, residents and businesses to participate by dropping off new, unwrapped toys for children newborn to 18 at Vaughan community centres, libraries, fire stations and the city’s joint operations centre at 2800 Rutherford Rd. until Dec. 11. Toys can also be dropped off at Vaughan City Hall until Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.

As we enjoy the holidays with family and friends, let us recognize that we have the power to make a meaningful difference. Donating a toy may seem like a simple act, but it has a profound impact on a child’s life. Together, we can spread the spirit of the season and help give every child a gift at Christmas.

Maurizio Bevilacqua is the mayor of Vaughan.