Image credit: CFJC Today/Kent Simmonds

By Marty Hastings

TOY HOUSE CAMPAIGN

B100 Toy House campaign delivers monster haul; Christmas Amalgamated short on food donations

Dec 23, 2024 | 6:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — B100 helpers were spotted carrying sizeable bags and boxes of toys out of Aberdeen Mall on Monday (Dec. 23), each of the gifts destined for Christmas Amalgamated and families in need across Kamloops.

“We wouldn’t be able to function without this one because this is the biggest donation of toys that comes in in the year,” said Christmas Amalgamated co-ordinator Sally Whitson, who has been helping to organize the B100 Toy House campaign for 48 years.

“This is a community that just really helps out.”

Toy house displays were set up at eight locations across the city this month, their doors open to donations of new, unwrapped toys.

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B100 radio personality Kayla Derkach was elated on Monday and marvelling at the generousity of Kamloopsians while collecting toys.

“It’s been a lot of fun, definitely a little chaotic, but just because we’re running around, grabbing all these toys and I’m so surprised every year at the amount,” Derkach said.

“It just seems like it’s getting bigger and bigger with donations. I want to give a shout out to everybody who did donate. Thank you so much.”

Whitson said that while toy donations are exceeding expectations, Christmas Amalgamated is in need of food donations.

“This is the first year where I’ve had such a shortage of food and it’s now starting to come in, so I hope it keeps coming in,” she said. “The toys are just fantastic.”

Those wishing to donate food can bring it to Christmas Amalgamated, which is on the corner of Eighth Street and Windsor Avenue on the North Shore.

Toy House locations for 2024 included:

• Aberdeen Mall
• Aberdeen Canadian Tire
• Sahali Mall
• Sahali Save-On-Foods
• Kamloops Kia
• Kamloops Fix It Auto
• North Hills Mall
• Kamloops Ford Lincoln