Echo food & toy drive

For Captain Micheline Hardy, this is the “busiest and best” time of year.

Hardy is the Corps Officer of the Ontario Central – East Division of The Salvation Army at the Hope Acres Community Church in Glencairn.

For the last few years, she has run a food and toy drive to help bring Christmas to families all over the area in Alliston, Angus, Tottenham — and Creemore, too.

Members of Hope Acres add toys and food vouchers to the more-than-100 Christmas hampers they provide to families who register for them.

If you are in the Christmas spirit, you can purchase a new toy or a food voucher from any grocery store, and bring them to the Echo office for pick-up. Although food vouchers are preferred, Hardy says Hope Acres will also accept gifts non-perishable goods such as canned foods and cereals.

Hardy will be collecting the donations from the Echo on Monday, December 16. However, Hope Acres collects donations of food all year round.

“This year, we are looking for items for older children, ages 10 to 13,” said Hardy, who suggested gifts of mittens, gloves and age-appropriate games. “It’s hard to get things for that age group for some reason; it used to be the older teenagers that were harder, but now it is this one.”