ST. PAUL – In an effort to bring joy to the youth, the Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre Society (MNFCS) launched its first-ever toy drive just in time for the holiday season on Dec. 6.
Arlene Yarmuch was the organizer of the event. She said the inspiration behind the toy drive was simple - “To help engage the community by coming together,” and to bring joy to children of all ages.
Many toys and monetary donations were donated during the day in front of Canadian Tire. For Yarmuch, it was very heart-warming. She said that times are getting hard, so to see so many nice people in community come by to donate was “humbling.”
She and the team behind the toy drive were rewarded with the laughs and the Christmas cheer of the people who came by. “It was just very nice."
She credited the whole team for the success of the MNFC’s toy drive. “I couldn’t do this without such a wonderful team,” she said, before also thanking the Fire Chief Trevor Kotowich and St. Paul Fire and Rescue for volunteering and helping out.
The toys that were collected will be wrapped and distributed during the annual Christmas supper at the Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre on Dec. 15. The event will begin at 6 p.m. Each child that attends the supper will be heading home with a gift.
The annual Christmas supper is open to the whole community. Anybody can take part and celebrate the holidays.
