Toyota dealerships across Vancouver Island collecting toys for children 

Toyota dealerships across Vancouver Island are getting into the holiday spirit this Christmas.

In Victoria, Nanaimo, Duncan and the Comox Valley, Toyota dealerships have been transformed into collection sites for Helmet Head Canada, who are accepting toy and financial donations ahead of the holidays.

At the locations in Nanaimo and Duncan, trucks decorated with big red bows have already been set up for several days, accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys in their truck beds.

In Victoria and the Comox Valley, collection boxes went up at the Toyota locations over the weekend.

All four participating dealerships will be accepting toy donations until December 13th.

The toys will then be collected by volunteer Toyota motorcycle riders in fuzzy costumed helmets, who will deliver the gifts to children in local hospitals and care sites from December 22nd to 24th.

Each toy donated to a Vancouver Island Toyota showroom will go directly to a child in need in the region.

On Christmas Eve, riders are expected to arrive at Comox Valley Hospital at 8:30 a.m. to deliver gifts to children.

Helmet Head Canada Society is a BC non-profit run by Crofton Toyota rider Scott Ferron, who says the organization has been collecting toys for 10 years now, and has collected roughly 20,000 toys a year during that time.

“I was a very sick infant in my first years as a child my self [sic.] and I know first hand the hardships parents face when their children are hospitalized and dealing with health setbacks,” a statement from Ferron on the Helmet Head Canada website reads.

“So naturally this aligned with me and I wanted to make a small contribution to help out and make a kid smile while being treated or upon release from the hospital, and toy runs were a natural way of doing so.”

Put the “toy” in Toyota this holiday season and bring a donation to any Toyota showroom on Vancouver Island!

For more information on how to donate toys, or to contribute financially, head to the Helmet Head Canada website here.