Local paramedics packed an ambulance to the rafters with toys and treats destined for families in need Saturday.
Shoppers at the Truro Walmart lined up to donate everything from stuffed animals to Christmas chocolates on Dec. 1, in what has become an annual tradition across towns big and small in Nova Scotia, with paramedics volunteering to run local gift drives.
“This is my favourite time of year, for me when I was their age I would have loved these things, for example,” said local man Steve Maricom, as he pointed towards the toy boxes and stuffed animals spilling out of the ambulance behind him. “It’s something small to put a smile on a kid’s face, it’s only a couple of bucks and it’s more than worth it.”
Maricom himself donated two blue stuffed animals to the paramedics, an elephant and a dinosaur. Other donations included IPods, nail polish and make-up kits, warm winter clothing, candies and movie cards, among others.
As a donor, Maricom felt that the Christmas Index Program was a good way to bring Christmas to children from poor families or those coping with a serious illness.
Paramedic Jenny Best, at Emergency Health Services, said that the Truro Christmas Index Program is being run with help from the local Rotary Club.
Once donations are collected, they will be distributed to local food banks and charities such as Feed Nova Scotia or the Salvation Army.
“We have a tradition here going in Truro now for the fourth year in a row that we do stuff an ambulance,” said Best. “It’s wonderful. It certainly brings us all into the Christmas spirit and it’s wonderful to see the generosity of the community, we really appreciate every donation, small or large.”
As paramedics collected donations in Truro on Dec. 1, their colleagues in Bridgewater, Glace Bay, North Sydney, Sydney, Sydney River and New Waterford did likewise that same day.
Paramedics are running gift drives from Nov. 25 to Dec. 8 in front of supermarkets across the province. The last day will include collections at Walmart locations across Halifax.
“Paramedics walk into the homes of folks in our communities and see firsthand the disparities that exist, families who struggle to put food on their tables and at this time of year, presents under the tree,” said EHS spokesperson Krista Lane in an earlier release.
